Nepal’s National Assembly has approved a new Tourism Bill that proposes stricter rules for climbing Everest.
The Bill introduces stricter rules for expeditions, insurance requirements, and a permanent Environment Protection and Mountaineers’ Welfare Fund for cleaning up high-altitude regions, including Mount Everest.
Some of the new requirements include:
- Anyone hoping to summit Everest must prove they have previously climbed at least one mountain above 7 000 metres in Nepal. Climbers need verified certificates authenticated by the Department of Tourism.
- Expedition members must submit a recent health certificate issued within the last month.
- Permits now require a detailed mountaineering plan, prescribed fees, and supporting documents.
- If someone is missing and uncontactable for one year during their expedition, authorities can officially declare them deceased.
- Anyone climbing Everest must bring back 8kg of solid waste. The $4 000 (R65 000) deposit is no longer refundable and automatically goes into the Environment Protection and Mountaineers’ Welfare Fund.
