Kathmandu, May 10 : Nepal has decided that May 29 - the date Sir Edmund Hillarly and Tenzing Norgay conquered the world's highest peak in 1953 - will be marked as International Mount Everest Day, tourism officials said.

"The government has decided to commemorate the historic first ascent. This year will be the first time we celebrate the event and pay tributes to Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay," the New Zealand Press Association quoted tourism ministry spokesman Prem Rai, as saying.

Sir Edmund died in January at the age of 88, prompting worldwide praise for the man seen by many members of Nepal's Sherpa community as a second father for the development work his foundation undertook in the Everest region.

New Zealanders have extensively debated ideas such as naming a mountain peak after him, or re-naming a peak.

Nepal will commemorate the day with "a mountain film festival, photography exhibitions and cultural programmes.