Nepal has announced a significant increase in permit fees for climbing Mount Everest, raising the cost by more than 35% for the first time in nearly a decade.

The new fee for climbers will be set at $15,000, up from the previous $11,000, according to the Department of Tourism Narayan director general Prasad Regmi.

This change will take effect in September and apply to the popular April-May climbing season.

The increase in permit fees comes as part of Nepal’s efforts to boost revenue from foreign climbers, a crucial source of income for the cash-strapped nation, which is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks.

In addition to the standard climbing season, fees for the less frequented September-November season and the rarely climbed December-February season will also rise by 36%, bringing the costs to $7,500 and $3,750 respectively.

About 300 permits are issued annually for Everest, and many in the industry view the increase as a reasonable response from the Nepalese government.

“We expected this hike in permit fees. It is an understandable step from the government of Nepal. I am sure the additional funds will be somehow used to protect the environment and improve safety on Everest,” Austria-based Furtenbach Adventures Lukas Furtenbach stated.

He emphasized ongoing efforts to maintain the mountain, including cleaning campaigns and safety measures such as rope fixing.

Climbers have reported that the mountain is becoming increasingly dry and rocky, possibly due to global warming and other environmental changes.

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