The government has seen a surge in revenue, surpassing Rs 500 million in royalty collection with the onset of the Mount Everest ascent season.
According to the Tourism Department, Rs 505 million was collected from 352 individuals who obtained climbing permits for Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.
Rakesh Gurung, Director at the Adventure Tourism and Mountaineering Section, highlighted the substantial growth in adventure tourism this year.
The Department aims to meet its revenue targets, building upon the previous year’s collection.
Out of the total 352 mountaineers from 33 expeditions, 65 are women and 287 are men, representing climbers from 55 countries.
Last year, 478 climbers arrived, generating revenue of Rs 760 million, with Rs 505 million already collected this year. Gurung anticipates an additional Rs 500 to Rs 700 million in revenue.
Spring has seen an encouraging surge in Mount Everest ascent, with the number of climbers exceeding 352 by April 19, and the possibility of further increase with additional permits.
As per mountaineering regulations, foreign climbers pay Rs 1.1 million for Mount Everest ascent during the Spring season, while Nepalis pay Rs 75,000.
Climbing Mount Everest incurs costs ranging from Rs 3 to 10 million for foreign climbers, making it a significant source of income in the tourism sector.
Mingma Sherpa, Chairman of Seven Summit Treks, emphasized Mount Everest’s allure for climbers and expressed optimism about its contribution to tourism revival.
Apart from Mount Everest, other popular climbing destinations include Makalu, Annapurna, Kanchanjungha, Dhaulagiri, Lhotse Amadablam, and Jugal.
Sherpa climbers are currently preparing the trail with rope fixing, making the route up to the second base camp of Mount Everest ready for climbers.
