Nepal Waives Permit Fees for 97 Himalayan Peaks to Boost Tourism.
International
Nepal announced a bold move to waive permit fees for 97 Himalayan peaks in its remote western regions—Karnali and Sudurpashchim—for the next two years, aiming to attract climbers to lesser-explored areas and boost local tourism-driven economies.
- Nepal’s Department of Tourism, under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA), revealed that the permit waivers apply to 97 peaks ranging from 5,870 m to 7,132 m in the Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces. The initiative, approved in a cabinet meeting on 27 July 2025 and announced on 11 August, seeks to open new frontiers in mountaineering across some of the country's least developed regions.
- This policy builds on earlier controlled experiments such as a similar waiver issued between 2008 and 2018. Over the past two years, just 68 climbers—from 21 teams—secured permits for only 15 of these peaks, generating a mere ₹1.4 million in royalties.
- Simultaneously, Nepal raised permit fees for Mount Everest dramatically—from USD 11,000 to USD 15,000 per climber, effective 1 September 2025—as part of efforts to reduce overcrowding and protect the fragile mountain ecology.
Main Point :- (i) Authorities hope the free-permit initiative will diffuse climber traffic from Everest into the Himalayas’ western hinterland, creating jobs—for guides, porters, and hospitality services—while stimulating infrastructure development in regions with poor road networks and limited amenities.
(ii) To balance economic opportunity with safety and preparedness, Nepal’s government is also considering regulations requiring Everest aspirants to first climb a 7,000 m peak within Nepal. This amendment to the Tourism Act is currently making its way through Parliament.
(iii) By removing financial barriers to peaks in remote areas and addressing congestion on iconic summits, the policy represents a strategic shift toward sustainable—and equitable—mountaineering tourism in Nepal’s Himalayas.
About Nepal
Capital: Kathmandu
Currency: Nepalese Rupee
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