Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality banned helicopter flights in Everest region

SOLUKHUMBU, Dec 18:The Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality has issued a ban on helicopter flights. The rural municipality has announced a ban on helicopter flights, claiming that the unrestricted use of helicopters has harmed tourism management.

The restriction on helicopter flights goes into effect on January 1. The decision was made during the rural municipality's executive meeting on December 7. Similarly, the Sagarmatha National Park Buffer Zone Management Committee and Khumbu stakeholders met on December 10 and resolved to ban helicopter flights except in emergencies.

The rural municipality stated that it took this action after receiving complaints that superfluous helicopter flights are significantly impacting local businesses, the environment, and tourism management. Helicopter flights will be permitted solely for health-related emergencies, with all other helicopter flights prohibited.

The rural municipality has found that the unnecessary use of helicopters has caused instability in the local environment, posed a barrier to the sustainable development of tourism, and impacted commerce. This move is expected to reduce the erratic flights of helicopter businesses and make the local tourism industry more systematic.

This decision is stated to be implemented in partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and tourism entrepreneurs. The rural municipality has warned helicopter businesses that they will face legal action if they breach this restriction. In addition, the local community, tourism entrepreneurs, and all stakeholders have been asked to completely support this decision.

The rural municipality noted that this measure is required for the long-term interests of the tourism industry and expressed confidence that it will aid in the proper conservation of the Khumbu region's ecology and tourism management.

Earlier, on December 13, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) issued a statement stating that the issue of flights falls under its control. Previously, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation wrote to the CAAN requesting a complete ban on helicopter flights, citing that the conservation area was under its jurisdiction and that uncontrolled helicopter flights were harming tourism, the environment, and public life in the Khumbu region.