Nepal is set to raise the permit fees for climbing Mount Everest by over 35%, making it more costly for mountaineers to conquer the world’s tallest peak. Officials confirmed this marks the first hike in nearly a decade on Wednesday.
The revised cost for a permit to climb the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) Everest will be $15,000, up from the previous $11,000, according to Narayan Prasad Regmi, the director general of Nepal’s Department of Tourism. “The royalty fees had not been updated for a long time. We have now revised them,” Regmi stated. The new rates will take effect in September, covering the popular April-May climbing season along the standard South Col route.
Fees for other climbing seasons will also rise. The September-November season’s permit will now cost $7,500, while the December-February season’s permit will be priced at $3,750, both reflecting a 36% increase.
Mountaineering plays a vital role in Nepal’s economy, generating revenue and jobs for the country, which is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks, including Everest. However, officials did not specify how the additional income from higher permit fees will be allocated.
Lukas Furtenbach, an expedition organizer from Austria’s Furtenbach Adventures, said the fee hike had been anticipated. “It’s an understandable step from Nepal’s government,” he said, expressing hope that the extra funds would be used for environmental protection and safety improvements on Everest.
Every year, hundreds of climbers attempt to scale Everest and other Himalayan peaks. However, Nepal has faced criticism for issuing too many permits, leading to overcrowding, environmental degradation, and safety concerns. Climbers returning from Everest report that the mountain is becoming drier and rockier, with less snow, potentially due to global warming.
Regmi noted that Nepal regularly organizes cleaning campaigns and implements safety measures like rope fixing. Still, environmentalists urge more robust actions to protect Everest from mounting challenges.