Scaling Mount Everest will incur an additional cost of $4,000 (£3,270) as Nepal has raised its fees for the first time in nearly ten years.
Nepal’s administration has declared a 36% surge in permit costs, resulting in an increase from $11,000 (£8,930) to $15,000 (£12,200) effective September.
Revenue from permit fees and related expenditures by international climbers constitutes a vital source of income and employment for the financially challenged nation, which is home to eight of the globe’s 14 tallest peaks, including Mount Everest.
The revised fee of $15,000 will be applicable for the popular climbing season of April-May along the commonly used South East Ridge, or South Col route.
Charges for the less frequented climbing season from September to November and the seldom attempted December-February season will also see a 36% rise, set at $7,500 (£6,090) and $3,750 (£3,040) respectively.
The North Face of Mount Everest. Pic: AP
Narayan Prasad Regmi, director general of the Department of Tourism, remarked: “The royalty [permit fees] had not been revised for an extensive period. We have now made these updates.”
Approximately 300 permits are allocated annually for Everest.
“We anticipated this increase in permit charges,” stated Lukas Furtenbach, of the Austrian-based expedition company Furtenbach Adventures.
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He expressed that this move is an “understandable decision” by the Nepalese government.
“I am confident that the additional revenue will be utilized to protect the environment and enhance safety on Everest,” Mr. Furtenbach noted.
Hundreds of adventurers attempt to ascend Mount Everest and many other Himalayan summits every year.
Nepal frequently faces criticism from climbing experts for permitting excessive numbers of individuals on Everest and for taking minimal action to maintain cleanliness and ensure the safety of climbers.
Climbers returning from Everest indicate that the mountain is becoming progressively drier and rockier, with less snow or precipitation, a trend experts attribute to global warming and other environmental changes.
While the government has not specified how the additional funds will be allocated, Mr. Regmi stated that cleaning initiatives have been organized to gather litter, and that rope installation alongside other safety protocols are regularly conducted.
