KATHMANDU, Feb 1: The Department of Tourism has appointed 227 liaison officers for the two tourist seasons of 2025. As per legal provisions, climbing teams must take a government-appointed liaison officer on every expedition above 6,500 meters. These officers verify whether the teams have successfully completed their climb.
They travel up to the base camp to certify the expedition’s success. According to the department’s information officer, Liladhar Awasthi, climbers successfully summited 764 peaks during the two tourist seasons of 2024. However, critics have accused the selection process of favoring well-connected officials.
Those without connections often complain that they do not get opportunities even after completing the liaison officer training. Climbing teams provide liaison officers with benefits of over $3,000 (around Rs 350,000) per expedition, along with a daily allowance of Rs 500.
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If liaison officers fall ill or suffer from altitude sickness during an expedition, they can return midway. However, some officers exploit this provision by staying in the field for only a day or two before citing illness and leaving early. Despite abandoning the expedition, they still receive full benefits. The Department of Tourism selects liaison officers.
Each year, all ministries recommend candidates for liaison officer appointments at the Department of Tourism, but critics allege that officials select only well-connected individuals. However, the department's information officer, Awasthi, denied any discrimination in the selection process.
"We ask each agency to recommend at least two senior employees and choose officers from the recommended names," he said. "If agencies discriminate during the recommendation process, we are not responsible for that."
Liaison officers undergo an eight-day training for mountaineering and obtain a health certification from a doctor. However, authorities have not set any age restrictions for the role. Since 2010, national-level employee organizations have recommended candidates for liaison officer appointments. Officials from official trade unions also take advantage of this provision.
Mountaineering teams climb twice a year during the spring season (March, April, and May) and the autumn season (September–November). The spring climbing season has now begun. In spring, climbers attempt peaks such as Everest, Lhotse, Kanchenjunga, and Annapurna, while Manaslu is a popular destination in autumn. Expeditions typically last between 20 to 75 days.
