Nepal hikes permit fee for Mount Everest climbers by 36%

Nepal is set to increase the permit fees for climbing Mount Everest by 36%. This will make hiking the world’s tallest peak more expensive for mountaineers for the first time in nearly a decade.

Under the revised mountaineering regulations, the royalty fee for foreigners to climb 8,849-metre (29,032ft) Everest would cost $15,000 (£12,000), said Narayan Prasad Regmi, the director general of Nepal’s Department of Tourism. This is a significant rise from the current $11,000 fee that has been in place for nearly a decade.

“The royalty [permit fees] had not been reviewed for a long time. We have updated them now,” Regmi said.

Income from permit fees and other expenditures by foreign climbers is a major source of revenue and employment for Nepal, which is home to eight of the 14 highest mountains in the world, including Mount Everest.

The new fees, applicable for the popular April-May climbing season along the standard South East Ridge, or South Col route, will come into effect from September. 

On the other hand, fees for the less popular September-November season, as well as the December-February season, will also surge by 36%, to $7,500 and $3,750 respectively. Around 300 permits are issued by the Nepalese authorities for Everest every year. It is expected that this increase in fees will help the struggling economy of the Asian nation. 

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However, Nepal has been facing criticism in recent years for allowing too many climbers on Everest and not doing enough to keep it clean or ensure the safety of climbers. Climbers have also complained that the mountain is becoming increasingly dry and rocky with less snow or other precipitation.

Responding to the criticism, Regmi noted that the authorities have organized regular cleaning campaigns to collect garbage and fix ropes to ensure safety of climbers.