At an Everest Day programme organized by the Government, founder of Yeti Airlines and Thamserku Trekking Sonam was awarded the International Everest Award this year in recognition of outstanding contribution spanning five decades towards promotion of Nepal's mountain tourism; his efforts have significantly improved job opportunities and tourist attractions across the country.

At the function, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda announced that a welfare fund under the Ministry of Finance would protect the rights and interests of mountaineers. Reacting to this, Lhakpa Sonam Sherpa thanked Madam Prime Minister for the latter's initiation and pledged a donation of 200,000 rupees to the Summiters Welfare Fund.