Hundreds of climbers attempt to reach the summit of Everest every year.
The Nepalese Ministry of Tourism has announced a more than 35 % increase in the climbing fee for Mount Everest. The cost to scale the world’s highest peak had remained unchanged for nearly a decade, according to Reuters.
Starting in September, the fee to climb the 8,849-meter mountain will rise from the current $11,000 to $15,000 during the peak climbing season in April and May on the two most commonly used routes.
Fees will also increase during less popular months. From September to October, the cost will be $7,500, while from December to February, it will be reduced to $3,750.
Expedition organizers believe the price hike will not deter climbers. “We expected the permit fee increase,” said Lukas Furtenbach of the Austrian company Furtenbach Adventures, which organizes Everest expeditions. He described the move as a “reasonable step” by the Nepalese government. “I am confident that the additional funds will be used to support environmental protection and improve safety on Everest,” Furtenbach added.
Each year, hundreds of climbers head to Everest, but Nepal has often been criticized for allowing too many tourists, failing to maintain cleanliness on the routes and in base camps, and not investing enough in safety measures. The Ministry of Tourism insists that climbing routes are regularly cleaned and that essential safety measures, such as fixed ropes, are maintained.
Climbers returning from the summit report that the mountain is becoming drier and more rocky due to decreasing snow levels. Experts suggest that global warming and other environmental changes may be contributing factors.
