The decision has come in effect following the sad demise of Sir Edmund Hillary in January 11, 2008. Government of Nepal has finally given a go ahead to change the name of the famous Lukla Airport to Tenzing Hillary Airport in memory of the two legendary mountaineers and the contribution Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary made for the development and promotion of tourism. The airport closest to Mount Everest, previously known as Lukla Airport, will now be called Tenzing Hillary Airport.

In another occasion the government of Nepal has also declared May 29, the day when Hillary and Tenzing climbed Mount Everest in 1953, as International Mountain Day. This is something that will definitely be welcomed by mountaineering community and the world at large.

Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa are considered the heroes of Everest and of Nepal. Hillary in particular had been involved in numerous humanitarian works in Nepal including the building of schools, hospitals and helping backward community to uplift their socio-economic standards. Sir Edmund Hillary died last month; Tenzing Norgay died in 1986.