▲ Mount Everest
The Nepalese government has collected over 10 billion won in climbing fees for Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, during this year's spring season.
According to reports from EFE and other media on June 19 (local time), the Nepal Department of Tourism announced that it issued climbing permits to 494 individuals this spring, generating 1 billion Nepalese rupees (approximately 10.1 billion won) in revenue.
This figure marks the highest revenue the Nepalese government has ever earned from issuing Everest climbing permits.
On May 20, a total of 274 climbers successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest in a single day.
This was recorded as the highest number of climbers to reach the summit via the southern route in Nepal in a single day.
Among those who received climbing permits for the spring season this year, Chinese nationals accounted for the largest group with over 100 people, followed by climbers from the United States, India, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Australia.
The increase in revenue from Everest climbing permits this year is attributed to the Nepalese government's decision to raise fees last year.
In January of last year, the Nepalese government increased the climbing fee for foreigners from 11,000 dollars (approximately 16.9 million won) to 15,000 dollars (approximately 23 million won), and raised the fee for Nepalese climbers from 75,000 Nepalese rupees (approximately 760,000 won) to 150,000 Nepalese rupees (approximately 1.52 million won).
Additionally, as China effectively closed the route from the Tibetan side this year, climbers flocked to the southern route in Nepal.
However, the Nepal Department of Tourism explained that the Middle East conflict between the U.S. and Iran led to a surge in global oil prices, which increased airfares and caused disruptions in some flight routes, somewhat affecting the demand for Everest expeditions.
Ram Krishna Lamichhane, Director of the Nepal Department of Tourism, stated, "If it weren't for the war in the Middle East, the number of Everest climbers could have reached an all-time high."
Mount Everest is located on the border between Nepal and China and was named after Sir George Everest, a British surveyor who contributed to the mapping of the Himalayas.
While its official height had long been 8,848 meters, the governments of China and Nepal revised it to 8,848.86 meters in December 2020.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.