Nepal Increases Cost of Permits to Climb Everest
2025-02-14
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1The government of Nepal has increased the cost of a permit to climb Mount Everest by about one-third.
2Officials say the price increase aims to help reduce pollution and increase safety on the world's highest mountain.
3The director of Nepal's tourism department is Narayan Prasad Regmi.
4He told the French news agency AFP the cost for a permit in the popular spring climbing season will increase from $11,000 to $15,000.
5Regmi noted the price had remained the same for about 10 years, so the government decided it was time to make a change.
6The costs, or fees, for climbing during less popular and more difficult times of year -- such as during winter or the summer monsoon rains -- have also increased.
7This includes an increase from $5,500 to $7,500 during the autumn climbing season.
8Thousands of climbers come to Nepal each year.
9The country is home to eight of 14 of the world's tallest mountains over 8,000 meters.
10Everest is 8,849-meters tall and sits on the border between Nepal and China.
11Foreign climbers spend tens of thousands of dollars on their efforts to climb Everest.
12More than 400 people bought climbing permits for Everest last year.
13This brought in around $4 million to the government.
14Nepal uses the money to remove waste from the mountain and to finance search and rescue operations.
15Some mountain climbing companies worry the higher price could lower the number of climbers wanting to climb Everest from the Nepalese side.
16The companies warn that some climbers might decide to climb Everest through China.
17"Some climbers might shift to Tibet where the facilities are much better," said Mingma G Sherpa.
18He runs the Imagine Nepal mountaineering company and says Nepal must use the money to improve conditions.
19"Our government just increases the royalty, but doesn't do much.
20It needs to also provide support to the climbers and guides," he added.
21Some groups have criticized Nepal for permitting too many climbers on Everest while not doing enough to keep the mountain clean.
22Last year, Nepal's government ordered all Everest climbers to carry trackers and bags to remove their human waste.
23The government approved the fee increase in January, but it was first published on February 3.
24I'm Andrew Smith.
1The government of Nepal has increased the cost of a permit to climb Mount Everest by about one-third. Officials say the price increase aims to help reduce pollution and increase safety on the world's highest mountain. 2The director of Nepal's tourism department is Narayan Prasad Regmi. He told the French news agency AFP the cost for a permit in the popular spring climbing season will increase from $11,000 to $15,000. Regmi noted the price had remained the same for about 10 years, so the government decided it was time to make a change. 3The costs, or fees, for climbing during less popular and more difficult times of year -- such as during winter or the summer monsoon rains -- have also increased. This includes an increase from $5,500 to $7,500 during the autumn climbing season. 4Thousands of climbers come to Nepal each year. The country is home to eight of 14 of the world's tallest mountains over 8,000 meters. Everest is 8,849-meters tall and sits on the border between Nepal and China. 5Foreign climbers spend tens of thousands of dollars on their efforts to climb Everest. More than 400 people bought climbing permits for Everest last year. This brought in around $4 million to the government. 6Nepal uses the money to remove waste from the mountain and to finance search and rescue operations. 7Some mountain climbing companies worry the higher price could lower the number of climbers wanting to climb Everest from the Nepalese side. The companies warn that some climbers might decide to climb Everest through China. 8"Some climbers might shift to Tibet where the facilities are much better," said Mingma G Sherpa. He runs the Imagine Nepal mountaineering company and says Nepal must use the money to improve conditions. 9"Our government just increases the royalty, but doesn't do much. It needs to also provide support to the climbers and guides," he added. 10Some groups have criticized Nepal for permitting too many climbers on Everest while not doing enough to keep the mountain clean. 11Last year, Nepal's government ordered all Everest climbers to carry trackers and bags to remove their human waste. The government approved the fee increase in January, but it was first published on February 3. 12I'm Andrew Smith. 13Andrew Smith adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting from Agence France-Presse. 14_______________________________________________________ 15Words in This Story 16shift - v. to change to something different 17facilities - n. (plural) buildings or other structures that provide basic services such as shelter, water, and electricity 18royalty - n. payments made for the use of something 19tracker - n. a small device on a person or object that lets others know their exact location and movements