Nepal issues record 492 Everest climbing permits
Higher fees and rising expedition costs fail to deter climbers as Chinese mountaineers lead foreign applicants for the world’s tallest peak
PC: Abiral Rai
Nepal has issued 492 permits to climb Mount Everest this spring, the highest number ever recorded for the world’s tallest peak, authorities said.
The Department of Tourism released the figure on May 8, surpassing the previous record of 479 permits issued in 2023.
“Everest has become a major attraction for expedition and adventure tourism,” said Himal Gautam, a director at Nepal’s Department of Tourism.
Gautam said the number of permits was likely to rise further. Final Everest permit last year was issued on May 16.
The record came despite concerns within Nepal’s mountaineering industry after the government raised Everest royalty fees to $15,000 from $11,000 this year and increased insurance requirements. Rising tensions in West Asia also pushed up airfares and drove sharp increases in transport, accommodation and logistics costs, fuelling fears of a decline in climber numbers.
“Although trekking has been hit, expeditions have remained steadfast against all odds. Everest has, as always, remained a major attraction for expeditions. The government is committed to managing it well,” Gautam said.
The surge in climbers has also heightened concerns over safety, waste management, environmental protection and communications on the mountain. The government has established a temporary office at Everest Base Camp to monitor and facilitate expeditions.
Since China closed the northern route to Everest expeditions, Nepal has expected more Chinese and foreign climbers to shift south. Chinese climbers led all nationalities this season with 109 permits, followed by Americans with 76. India ranked third with 61 permits, while Britain accounted for 32.
The Everest permits, issued to 50 teams, generated royalties of $7.19 million — more than 1.07 billion Nepali rupees — making Everest by far the largest single source of mountaineering revenue among Nepal’s 30 permitted peaks this season.
Total royalty collections from all mountains reached $8.33 million, equivalent to about 1.24 billion Nepali rupees.
Lhotse, which shares part of its route with Everest, drew 120 climbers across 10 teams, while Makalu attracted 72 climbers and Nuptse saw 56.
Among Nepal’s other 8,000-metre peaks, Annapurna drew 27 permits, Dhaulagiri 30, Makalu 21, Manaslu two and Kanchenjunga 36 this spring.
