Pandey’s candidacy, along with his full panel, was unveiled during a program held on Sunday in preparation for TAN’s annual general meeting and election scheduled for August 17.

Pandey’s team includes Cholendra Bahadur Karki as First Vice President, Dawa Lama as Second Vice President, Sonam Sherpa as General Secretary, Sajna Tripathi as Secretary, Ganesh Prasad Neupane as Treasurer, and Dumbar Adhikari as Co-Treasurer. Additional candidates for working committee members from the Pandey group include Madhav Kumar Dhamala, Vinod Kumar Tamang, Srishti Bhandari, Phurbu Chiring Bhote, Utsav Dhakal, Shiv Prasad Silwal, and Ambir Bahadur Gurung.

The announcement was met with significant support from various stakeholders in the tourism industry. Senior tourism professional Dr. Ramsharan Thapalia, who initially considered running for TAN president, decided to back Pandey, highlighting the importance of having a business-oriented leader like Pandey at the helm. Thapalia urged TAN members to elect a professional with extensive experience in the field.

Similarly, Nilhari Bastola, the current president of TAN, expressed his support for Pandey’s team, emphasizing the need for strong, professional, and non-political leadership. Bastola cautioned against the influence of politics within business organizations, warning that it could lead to the organization’s downfall.

Sagar Pandey, in his address, appealed to TAN members for their votes, promising to prioritize the establishment of a “Brihat Tan Akshay Kosh” (Grand TAN Endowment Fund) to benefit both businesses and workers involved in mountain trekking. He also committed to addressing the recent issues of indiscriminate road digging by local authorities, which threaten trekking routes. Additionally, Pandey vowed to work on reviewing the VAT imposed on the trekking business and announced plans to release a 22-point manifesto focusing on the needs of both businessmen and employees.

Pandey’s candidacy has also garnered support from various tourism business organizations, including the Founder Democratic Tourism Association, Dynamic Tourism Business Group, and Sherpa Tourism Business Association, all of whom have agreed to form a common group to ensure his victory.