KATHMANDU: Despite the impact of COVID-19, an increment has been observed in the number of mountaineers in the winter season in Nepal.
According to the Department of Tourism, of the total number of 510 climbers, 418 men and 92 women, have taken permission to climb 23 mountains from 64 climbing teams.
Mohan Bahadur GC, Spokesperson at Department of Tourism, highest number of people that is 193, have been taken permission to climb Manaslu Mountain, followed by 49 climbers in Himlung Mountain and 40 climbers in Dhaulagiri Mountain.
“One mountaineer each has taken permission to climb Changdi Mountain and Amotsang Himal, similarly, two mountaineers teams have taken permission for Thapapeak and Tengkhangpoche Mountain,” He said.
He further informed that Rs. 35 million 6,147 revenue has been collected from the permitting of mountaineering.
Last April, the highest number of climbers was 408 people of 43 teams who had taken permission to climb Mount Everest.
A total of 716 people from 85 teams had taken permission to climb 16 mountains of Nepal, from where Rs 714 million 853 thousand and 529 revenue was collected.
According to the Department of Tourism, the number of trekking tourists was nil for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, no change has been observed in mountaineering tourists visiting Nepal.
According to the Immigration Department, the number of tourists visiting Nepal for trekking has started increasing with the decrease in Coronavirus.