Nepal Set to Bar Inexperienced Climbers from Everest
Nepal's Upper House of its bicameral parliament passed the Tourism Bill 2081 this week, marking a decisive step toward regulating the increasingly congested ascent routes that have plagued the iconic peak in recent years.
"This week, the Upper House approved the bill. It will be effective once the House of Representatives approves and it gets authenticated by the president," said Himal Gautam, spokesperson for the Department of Tourism, the body responsible for regulating the climbing industry.
The lower chamber, the House of Representatives, is expected to ratify the bill shortly after reconvening in March — following its dissolution in the wake of widespread Gen Z protests last September. A general election is scheduled for March 5 to seat new parliamentary members.
The urgency of reform is underscored by staggering annual demand — more than 400 climbers secure south-side Everest permits each season. Bottlenecks caused by underprepared climbers have forced experienced summiteers to wait hours within narrow weather windows, increasing the risk of collapse during both ascent and descent.
The legislation also targets Everest's mounting waste crisis. The current system — which collects $4,000 per climber as a refundable garbage deposit upon submission of a clearance certificate — has proven largely ineffective.
"Refundable garbage fund provision isn't working at all. So, we have proposed to collect the fee and invest it for the purpose of mountain cleanup campaigns and the well-being of Sherpa guides," said Gautam.
The bill further enshrines protections for Sherpa guides, whose welfare and social security have long been championed by reformists within the climbing industry as an urgent and overdue priority.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
