Govt to increase royalty charged for climbing mountains in the country

KATHMANDU, August 11: The government of Nepal making preparations to increase the royalty to be paid when climbing mountains including the world's highest peak, Mt Everest. Rakesh Gurung, director of the department of tourism, said that preparations are underway to introduce new regulations to increase the royalty collected for climbing mountains. “The new royalty will be published within this after it is approved by the Council of Ministers,” he said. 

Also, guidelines have been prepared to allow amputees to climb the mountains of Nepal. 

For Mt Everest, foreign climbers are required to pay a royalty fee of USD 11,000 for spring, USD 5,500 for autumn, and USD 2,750 for winter and summer seasons at present. 

Meanwhile, Nepali climbers are required to pay Rs 75,000 for spring, Rs 37,500 for autumn, and Rs 18,250 for winter and summer.  

For mountains above 8,000 meters apart from Mt Everest, foreign climbers are required to pay a royalty fee of USD 1,800 for spring, USD 900 for autumn, and USD 450 for winter and summer seasons at present. 

Nepali climbers are required to pay Rs 10,000 for spring, Rs 5,000 for autumn, and Rs 2,500 for winter and summer for the same.  

For mountains above 7,000 meters to 7,999 meters, foreign climbers are required to pay a royalty fee of USD 600 for spring, USD 300 for autumn, and USD 150 for winter and summer seasons at present. Nepali climbers are required to pay Rs 6,000 for spring, Rs 3,000 for autumn, and Rs 1,500 for winter and summer for the same.  

For mountains above 7,000 meters to 7,500 meters, foreign climbers are required to pay a royalty fee of USD 500 for spring, USD 250 for autumn, and USD 125 for winter and summer seasons at present. Nepali climbers are required to pay Rs 6,000 for spring, Rs 3,000 for autumn, and Rs 1,500 for winter and summer for the same.