23/01/2025
Nepal Increases Everest Climbing Permit Fees
Nepal has announced a significant increase in the permit fees for climbers seeking to summit Mount Everest, marking the first hike in nearly a decade. Starting in September, climbers will be required to pay $15,000 (£12,180) for a permit during the peak climbing season of April to May. This represents a 36% increase from the previous fee of $11,000.
The fee adjustments will also apply to climbing outside the peak season, with permits costing $7,500 from September to November and $3,750 from December to February. The revenue generated from these permit fees is crucial for Nepal's economy, as mountain climbing and trekking contribute over 4% to the country's GDP.
Despite the increase, there are concerns regarding the number of climbers on Everest, with experts often criticizing the Nepalese government for issuing too many permits—approximately 300 each year. Narayan Prasad Regmi, the director general of the Department of Tourism, stated that the royalty fees had not been reviewed for a long time and that the adjustments were necessary.
British mountaineer Kenton Cool, who has summited Everest 18 times, commented that the fee increase is unlikely to deter most foreign climbers, as it is relatively minor compared to the overall costs of climbing the mountain. He expressed hope that the additional revenue would be utilized effectively.
In April 2024, Nepal's Supreme Court ordered the government to limit the number of mountaineering permits issued for Everest and other peaks, emphasizing the need to respect the mountains' capacity. However, the court did not establish a specific maximum number of permits.
Concerns about overcrowding on Everest have led to dangerous conditions, with climbers often queuing to reach the summit. In response, the Nepalese army initiated an annual clean-up operation in 2019, aimed at addressing the significant waste problem on the mountain, which has been dubbed the world's highest garbage dump. To date, these clean-up efforts have removed 119 tonnes of rubbish, along with 14 human corpses and some skeletons, although it is estimated that around 200 bodies remain on the mountain.
Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 highest peaks, including Mount Everest, making it a prime destination for climbers from around the globe.
