April 20: With the onset of season for climbing Mt Everest (Sagarmatha), the government has collected over Rs 500 million in royalties so far.    
The Department of Tourism informed RSS that it collected Rs 505 million from 352 persons who were issued climbing permit to scale the world's highest peak, Mt Everest.    
Director of the Adventure Tourism and Mountaineering Section under the department, Rakesh Gurung, informed that the number of adventure tourists grew significantly this year.    
The department said that a total of 352 mountaineers from 33 expeditions including 65 women and 287 men have been issued permits to climb Everest.    
Last year, a total of 478 climbers – the maximum number ever – were issued permits to climb Everest. The department collected revenue of Rs 760 million last year, while it has collected Rs 505 million so far this year.    
Gurung estimated that some Rs 500 to Rs 700 million more revenue could be generated this year as the season has just started.    
The government has collected royalties by issuing permits for climbing 24 peaks, including Everest. The highest peak is the source of most of the revenue.     
"This spring, Sagarmatha ascent is encouraging. The number of climbers has reached more than 352 by April 19. The number of climbers could increase to over 400," Gurung shared.    
The mountaineering regulation, 2059 has provision to impose Rs 1.1 million from each foreign climber during the spring season for climbing Everest, while each Nepali needs to pay Rs 75,000.    
A foreign climber spends at least Rs 3 to 10 million for climbing Everest.    
Major source of income in tourism sector comes from revenue on mountain climbing. Spring season is best time for climbing mountains.    
In addition to the highest peak of the world, climbers have also been issued permits to climb Makalu, Annapurna, Kanchanjungha, Dhaulagiri, Lhotse Amadablam, Jugal among other mountains.    
Currently, the Sherpa climbers are mobilized to prepare the trail with rope fixing. The route up to second base camp of the Sagarmatha is already fixed by the Sherpas also known as ‘icefall doctors’.