KATHMANDU, April 14: A total of 84 mountaineering teams have obtained permits till April 13 to climb various mountains and peaks in Nepal in this spring season. These expedition teams have a total of 689 members. The government was able to collect royalty of over Rs 373 million from the climbers seeking permits.  

The expedition teams obtaining permissions for 19 mountains and peaks including the Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) hail from different 65 countries including Nepal. Of them,  250 climbers (194 males and 56 females) from 45 countries will be attempting to scale the world's tallest peak, Mt Everest.  

The royalty collection so far from the permission to climb Everest this season is calculated over Rs 310 million. It may be noted that the 2021's spring season witnessed the highest ever number of expedition teams (45) for the Mt. Everest.

The Department of Tourism (DoT) hopes that the number of mountain expedition teams will climb this year too as mountain tourism is vibrant after COVID-19 crisis and the climate is favorable for climbing. 

Tourism entrepreneurs say they are somehow enthusiastic to see an atmosphere suggesting good indicators in the tourism sector with the slowing down of COVID-19 infection risk.

Outgoing chair of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) and noted tourism entrepreneur Aang Chhiring Sherpa said, "Although the number of climbers this year is fewer as compared to the previous year, it seems Nepal's mountain tourism is attracting more foreign climbers and it is indeed noteworthy. The number is gradually rising." 

Number of climbers for different peaks 

Both Nepali and foreign climbers are continuously setting out for this season's expedition to Mt Everest after receiving climbing permits. So far, 250 climbers belonging to 31 expedition teams have acquired permission for climbing Mt Everest (8848.86 meters).   

Similarly, 64 climbers of nine expedition teams have acquired permission to climb Mt Lhotse (8516 meters), 65 climbers from six teams have taken permission for climbing Mt Amadablam (6814 meters) and 38 mountaineers of five expedition teams have got permission to climb Mt Kanchenjunga (8586 meters).

Likewise, 38 mountaineers belonging to five groups have taken permission for climbing Mt Nuptse (7855 meters), 26 climbers of four groups have acquired permission to climb Mt Annapurna (8091 meters), two expedition teams have taken permission for climbing Mt Dhaulagiri (8167 meters), two teams for climbing Milung Chuli, and three mountaineering teams for climbing Bhemdong, Gangapurna and Thapa Peak, the Mountaineering Section of the DoT stated in a press release.

(RSS)

 
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