Kathmandu, Nepal have honoured Tenzing Norgey Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary by installing their statues in order to promote tourism in the country.

The statues of Tenzing Norgey Sherpa, Sir Edmund Hillary and Boris Lidanevich were unveiled by Nepal's Tourism and Civil Aviation minister, Sharat Singh Bhandari, and Russian Minister for Culture, Tipalov Alexandar.

Sherpa an Indian national and Hillary of New Zealand, both were the first persons to climb the world's highest peak Mt Everest and Lidanevich, a Russian national made significant contribution to Nepal's tourism sector by establishing the first tourist hotel.

"Nepal was lagging behind as there was not any significant economic change following the political changes", Bhandari said.

The minister also said that government would make efforts to establish direct air service between Nepal and Russia. The statues were jointly set up by Nepal Tourism Board and Non Resident Nepali (NRN) Association, Russia.

The first human ascent to Mt Everest in May 29, 1953 made Nepal known to the international arena opening the door for tourism in the country.