The tourism business in Nepal was affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two years. However, this spring, mountaineering activities are expected to increase.
So far, 19 mountaineering teams from different countries have obtained permission to climb various mountains in Nepal, according to the Department of Tourism, Government of Nepal. A total of 142 people, 109 men, and 33 women, have been granted the permission. The Government of Nepal has received a total revenue of Rs 45,192,090, equivalent to 372,600 US Dollars.
As spring is the ideal season for mountaineering, the number of teams applying for permits is expected to increase in a few days.
So far, three teams have taken permission for the ascent of the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, and Annapurna. A total of 13 men and 3 women have been allowed to climb Mt. Everest.
A team of experts have been working for a few days now to pave the way for various mountaineering teams to climb Mt. Everest. A team of eight led by Aang Sarki Sherpa had gone to Everest for this very job.
Similarly, a total of 25 climbers, 14 men and 11 women, have got permission to climb Annapurna Il. There are two teams in Amadablam and Himlung. Gangapurna, Dhaulagiri, Thapa Peak, Dhampus, Lhotse, Nupse, Bhimdangari, Kanchenjunga and Nupse have one team each.
Last autumn, 36 climbing teams from different countries had got permission to climb 14 different mountains. The team consisted of 242 males and 55 females. In that season, the Government of Nepal had collected a total of 225,825 US dollars, equivalent to 26,488,709 rupees.
Due to the COVID outbreak in the spring of 2020, the Government of Nepal had postponed all mountaineering. However, in the spring of 2021, mountaineering activities were opened again. Only 43 teams were allowed to climb Mt. Everest then.
At the same time, Kami Rita Sherpa broke his own world record and reached the summit of Mt. Everest for the 25th time. Similarly, the success of 3 Nepalese Sherpa sisters from Gaurishankar of Dolakha ascending Mt. Everest and the joint Annapurna mountain climb of 6 Nepalese women was another notable aspect. This time around, Kamirita Sherpa is climbing Mt. Everest for the 26th time.
In Nepal, mountaineering is becoming safer each year. In the past, many climbers died on summits, including Mount Everest, but today the death rate has been found to have decreased. Compared to the past, the guides working in the mountains as well as other workers are now trained. Similarly, the climbers who were forced to wear heavy clothes and shoes in the past have been able to wear lighter clothes and shoes. The use of other safety equipment has also been found to help in the safety of the ascents. Team leaders, too, have been able to get information about the weather conditions months in advance, so the risk has been reduced.
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