Climbing Everest Now Costs 23 Million Won Per Person... Nepal Sets All-Time Revenue Record

Everest Climbing Fees Bring in 10.1 Billion Won This Spring
Closure of Tibetan Route Drives Climbers to Nepal
Record Revenue Despite Middle East Conflict Variable

The Nepalese government has earned more than 10 billion won this spring from Everest climbing fees, setting a new record.

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According to Yonhap News, citing EFE News Agency on June 19, Nepal Tourism Board issued Everest climbing permits to 494 people this spring, generating revenue of 1 billion Nepalese rupees (approximately 10.1 billion won) from climbing fees. This is the highest amount Nepal has ever earned from issuing Everest climbing permits.

On May 20, a total of 274 climbers successfully reached the summit of Everest in a single day, marking the highest number of summits in one day via the southern route from Nepal.

This spring, Chinese climbers made up the largest group among those who received Everest climbing permits, numbering over 100. Americans, Indians, Britons, Russians, and Australians followed.

Climbing Fees Raised, Profits Soar ... "Middle East War a Regrettable Variable"

The increase in Everest climbing permit revenue this year is due to the Nepalese government raising climbing fees last year.

In January last year, the Nepalese government raised the foreign climber fee from $11,000 (about 16.9 million won) to $15,000 (about 23 million won). The fee for Nepalese climbers was also doubled, from 75,000 Nepalese rupees (about 760,000 won) to 150,000 Nepalese rupees (about 1.52 million won).

Additionally, the fact that China effectively closed the Tibetan route from its territory this year led more climbers to choose the southern route from Nepal, contributing to the increased revenue.

However, the Nepal Tourism Board explained that due to the war in the Middle East between the United States and Iran, international oil prices surged, resulting in higher airfare and some flight disruptions, which somewhat dampened demand for Everest expeditions. Ram Krishna Lamichhane, Director General of the Nepal Tourism Board, said, "If it weren't for the war in the Middle East, the number of Everest climbers could have reached an all-time high."

Nepal is home to 8 of the world’s 14 highest peaks, including Everest. Entry fees for the Himalayas, which include Everest, rank among Nepal’s major sources of tourism revenue.

Meanwhile, Everest is located on the border between Nepal and China and is named after British surveyor Sir George Everest, who contributed to the mapping of the Himalayas. While the official height had long been 8,848 meters, in December 2020 the governments of China and Nepal jointly revised the official figure to 8,848.86 meters.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.