KATHMANDU, Nepal–At a time some conservationists were seriously concerning about the environmental impacts of the climbers with the government’s recent decision to review the Everest fees citing to encourage more climbers, an official at the Tourism Ministry said the reduction in climbing fees will not affect Everest.
“Reduction of fees will not have any adverse effect on the health of Everest”, thehimalayantimes quoted Tilak Ram Pandey, an official at the Department of Mountaineering Section at the Tourism Ministry said.
Pandey also refuted claims by some veteran Himalayan guides who say reduction in mountaineering fees will lead to further crowding on the peaks.
Likewise, Ang Tsering Sherpa, President of Nepal Mountaineering Association, (NMA) also lauded the measures adopted by government authorities. “Criticism by a few foreign mountaineers and companies on revised fee structure is not justified,” Sherpa said adding that the government came up with new ideas to make Everest expeditions fairly more affordable, thus making the journey accessible to more climbers.
In the meantime, the Ministry is also learnt to have seeking the approval from the cabinet to open 104 more peaks for climbing. There will be 414 peaks for adventure tourism if the government approves new peak.