Nepal hikes Everest climbing fee to $15,000

Nepal has increased the fee for an Everest climbing permit by one-third, with officials stating that this adjustment aims to address pollution and enhance safety on the world's tallest mountain, as reported by the tourism chief on Tuesday.

The permit cost for the peak spring climbing season will rise from $11,000 to $15,000 for those seeking to ascend the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit, according to Narayan Prasad Regmi, the director general of the tourism department, in an interview with AFP.

"The fee had remained unchanged for a decade, and it was necessary to make this revision," he remarked.

The costs for climbing during less popular and more challenging seasons, such as winter or the monsoon, have also seen similar increases, with fees rising from $5,500 to $7,500 for the autumn season.

Nepal is home to eight of the 14 peaks in the world that exceed 8,000 meters and attracts thousands of climbers annually.

Foreign climbers typically invest tens of thousands of dollars in their efforts to summit Everest, with over 400 permits issued last year, generating approximately $4 million for the government.

These funds are allocated for the removal of waste left by climbers on the mountain and for search and rescue operations.

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Mountaineering companies expressed hope that the increased fees would not dissuade climbers, cautioning that some may opt to attempt the ascent via China instead.

"Some climbers might choose Tibet, where the facilities are significantly better," stated Mingma G Sherpa, who operates the Imagine Nepal mountaineering company, emphasizing that the additional revenue should be directed towards improving conditions.

"Our government merely raises the royalty without making substantial improvements," he added.

"It is essential to provide adequate support to both climbers and guides."

Nepal has faced criticism for permitting excessive numbers of climbers on Everest while taking insufficient measures to maintain the mountain's cleanliness.