Nepal extends validity of permits to climb Mount Everest

Climbing Mount Everest is the main source of revenue for Nepal but, the earthquakes of 2015 have seriously damaged the potentials. At least 19 climbers were killed in the massive earthquake when huge blocks of ice buried their tents at the base camp of the 8,850-metre (29,035 feet) Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain. Therefore, Nepal has extended the validity of the climbing permits of hundreds of foreigners who had been forced to abandon the Himalayas after twin earthquakes in 2015. This step has been taken to encourage them to return to the mountains. This has been reported in ibnlive.com dated 1 March 2016.

It seems more than 800 foreign climbers, each of whom had paid up to $11,000 for their permits, had to cancel their expeditions after the April quake triggered landslides and massive avalanches across the Himalayas. Hence, a decision has been taken to allow the climbers to climb on the same permit this year and in 2017. Hopefully this would see Nepal revive tourism that contributes four percent to GDP. The climbing season usually begins later this month but hiking officials say foreign bookings have dropped sharply. Moreover, Nepal's infrastructure was badly hit in the quakes and, coupled with a prolonged transport blockade along the border with India over a political dispute, it has further hit supplies of fuel and equipment.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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