Nepal Increases Mount Everest Climbing Permit Fees to Address Pollution and Safety

The 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.

The 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.

The 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.

Thousands 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.

Foreign 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.

Nepal uses the money to remove waste from the mountain and to finance search and rescue operations.

Some 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.

"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.

"Our government just increases the royalty, but doesn't do much. It needs to also provide support to the climbers and guides," he added.

Some groups have criticized Nepal for permitting too many climbers on Everest while not doing enough to keep the mountain clean.

Last 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.