Govt earns Rs. 254 m from Mt. Everest climbing permits this season

The government has collected Rs. 254 million in revenue from Mt. Everest climbing permits this season.

Twenty nine expeditions (as of April 19) from different countries are attempting Mt. Everest (8848m), the tallest peak on earth, this spring.

According to Tourism Industry Division of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, 315 foreign mountaineers have received permission to climb Mt. Everest.

Last year, the government had permitted 335 foreign mountaineers of 30 teams. Of them, 181 made it to the summit of Mt. Everest.

The spring climbing season starts from mid-March and runs through May. Officials of the division said members of most of the expedition teams have already left for Khumbu Region for acclimatization.

According to them, royalty fee to climb Mt. Everest ranges from US$15,000 to US$70,000 per expedition. The permit fee depends on the size of the team and route.

An expedition with 15 members is required to pay US$10,000 per person as permit fee.