Nepal wants to limit the number of tourists who can climb Mount Everest. What is the reason
29 April 2025 14:57
Nepal plans to issue permits to climb Mount Everest only to those climbers who have already climbed at least one of the Himalayan mountains of a certain height.
This was reported by Reuters, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Earlier, the country was criticized for allowing many climbers, including beginners, to climb Mount Everest, which is 8,849 meters high, leading to long lines in the “death zone,” which is the area below the summit where there is a lack of oxygen.
Several deaths have been linked to this situation. At least 12 climbers were killed and five others went missing on the slopes of Mount Everest in 2023, when Nepal issued 478 climbing permits. Last year, eight more tourists were killed.
How will the new law solve the problem?
The new law should eliminate overcrowding on the mountain and make climbing safer. According to the plan, a permit to climb the highest peak will be issued if a climber proves that he or she has already conquered at least one mountain in Nepal with a height of 7,000 meters.
Sardar and mountain guides accompanying tourists will be required to have Nepali citizenship. The bill was registered in the National Assembly, the upper house of parliament. The ruling alliance there has the majority needed to pass the document.
Nepal has more than 400 peaks open to expeditions. Of these, 74 are higher than 7 thousand meters. However, according to local officials, not all of these mountains are popular with tourists.
In May 2024, the Nepalese Supreme Court ordered the government to limit the number of permits issued for climbing Mount Everest and other peaks. The summary of the ruling states that the capacity of the mountains “must be respected.”
