Nepalese Authority Plans To Increase Mount Everest Climbing Permit Fees

JAKARTA - Nepalese authorities plan to increase the cost of climbing permits for Mount Everest by more than 35 percent, making the world's highest peak more expensive for mountain climbers for the first time in nearly a decade, officials said on Wednesday.

Revenue from permits and other expenses by foreign climbers is a major source of income and employment for the money-deficient country, home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, including Mount Everest.

The permit to climb Mount Everest as high as 8,849 meters (29,032 feet) will cost 15.000 US dollars (Rp242,556,750), said Narayan Prasad Regmi, director general of the Department of Tourism, who announced a 36 percent increase from the $11,000 cost. which has been in effect for nearly a decade.

"Royalti (the permit fee) has not been reviewed for a long time. We have updated it now," Regmi told Reuters.

The new rates will take effect from September and take effect for the popular April-May climbing season along the standard South East Ridge, or the South Col route, which Sir Total Hillary and Sherpa Tengg Norgay initiated in 1953.

The cost for the less popular September-November season and the rarely-hit December-February season will also increase by 36 percent, to US$7,500 (Rp121,278,375) and US$3,750 (Rp60,639,187).

Meanwhile, a number of expedition organizers said the increase, which has been discussed since last year, was unlikely to discourage climbers. About 300 permits are issued annually for Everest.

"We have estimated an increase in the cost of this permit," said Lukas Furtenbach of Austrian-based expedition organizer Furtenbach Adventures.

He said it was a "understood step" from the Nepalese government.

"I believe the additional funds will be used to protect the environment and improve safety on Everest," Furtenbach said.

Regmi did not say why the additional income would be used.

It is known, hundreds of climbers try to climb Mount Everest and several other Himalayan peaks every year.

On the other hand, Nepal is often criticized by mountain climbing experts for allowing too many climbers on Everest and not doing much to keep it clean or ensure the safety of climbers.

Regmi said the cleaning campaign was held to collect garbage and install ropes and other safety measures were carried out regularly.

Climbers returning from Everest say the mountain is becoming increasingly dry and rocky with less snow or other rainfall, which experts say could be caused by global warming or other environmental changes.