The Department of Tourism has granted permission to 441 climbers, including 79 women, from 55 countries to climb Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world, this spring. According to the Department of Tourism, the permits are part of a larger effort to accommodate the growing number of adventurers eager to conquer Everest.
Details of Expeditions and Indian Participation
As of Monday, the Department of Tourism, led by Himal Gautam, the Director at the Nepal Tourism Department, confirmed that 44 expeditions from 55 countries have received permission to attempt the climb. Among these climbers, 75 are from India, with 12 of them being women. The Nepalese government has collected a total royalty of Nepalese ₹653.8 million from the issuance of these permits.
Total Number of Climbers and Royalty Collected
In total, the Tourism Department has issued permission for 1,095 climbers to scale 26 different mountain peaks, including Everest, during the spring season. This marks a significant boost in Nepal’s mountaineering tourism, with 114 expeditions from 73 countries receiving clearance for their climbing projects. The royalty collected from these expeditions has totaled Nepalese ₹748.1 million, underscoring the importance of mountaineering to Nepal’s economy.
Everest Summits and Progress of Climbers
To date, more than 8,000 Nepalese and international climbers have successfully summited Mt. Everest. Many climbers have already arrived at Everest’s base camp and are progressing towards higher altitudes in their quest to reach the summit. Some of these are expected to reach the top by May 11 or 12.
Ice doctors are hard at work fixing ropes to assist climbers on their ascent. The team has almost completed the rope fixing up to the South Col and expects to finish the task up to the summit by May 9–10. Nepal’s 8K Expedition, a key player in this operation, has deployed 12 Sherpa guides to ensure the safety and support of climbers on their journey to the top.
