Lawmakers seek tougher Everest climbing rules with 263 amendments to Tourism Bill

Nepal's Parliament is considering significant changes to the rules governing Mount Everest climbs through amendments to the Integrated Tourism Bill. A total of 58 lawmakers have submitted 263 amendments, primarily aiming to enhance safety and ensure that commercial mountaineering benefits remain within Nepal.

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requiring climbers to prove their experience on lower peaks before being allowed to attempt the world’s highest mountain.

A central theme of the proposed amendments is the requirement for climbers to demonstrate substantial prior experience. Several lawmakers suggest that permits for Everest should only be granted to those who have successfully summited at least one peak above 7,000 meters and two peaks above 8,000 meters in Nepal. This aims to ensure that only seasoned mountaineers attempt the world's highest peak.

Further proposals focus on regulating the business aspect of expeditions. Lawmakers advocate for all commercial mountaineering activities, including promotion, marketing, and package sales, to be exclusively handled by trekking agencies registered and licensed in Nepal. This move seeks to prevent foreign companies from directly operating or selling expeditions, thereby strengthening the domestic tourism industry.

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Foreign companies shall not be permitted to directly sell or operate such expeditions or packages.

Additional amendments address the issue of overcrowding and safety on popular mountains. Lawmakers propose that the government should determine the carrying capacity of each mountain before allowing climbs. This would involve assessing the mountain's physical capacity, weather windows, and potential congestion. Permits for climbing could then be auctioned within a set quota, with permits awarded to the highest bidders.

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When opening any mountain in Nepal for climbing, the government shall determine the maximum number of climbers permitted on each mountain during every climbing season after considering the mountain’s physical carrying capacity, favourable weather windows, and the level of congestion likely to occur.

Other proposed requirements include mandatory mountaineering training and medical certification for all applicants. Climbers would need to provide proof of successful ascents of high-altitude peaks, with specific requirements varying slightly among the proposals. For instance, some suggest a minimum of one 7,000-meter peak, while others propose multiple lower peaks as prerequisites. The overarching goal is to professionalize the climbing industry and improve safety standards on Nepal's formidable mountains.

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Climbers would have to submit certificates from recognised mountaineering training institutions and a government-recognised health facility, based on a medical examination conducted within one month of the application.