33 NMA peak permit issue by Nepal Government
Nepal Government announced that the Nepal Mountaineering Association would no longer be allowed to issue climbing permits for mountains, something it has been handling since 1977. The government move comes after national mountaineering stakeholders expressed serious concern about the transparency of millions of rupees the country’s oldest alpine club annually collected by issuing permits to the world climbers.
Referring to the recent decision by the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation said it authorized the Department of Tourism to issue climbing permits with effect from 16 Oct 2015, ending a nearly four-decade-long NMA’s monopoly on 33 mountains ranging from Mt Chhukung Ri (5,550m) to Shigu Chuli (6,501m). After ending its major earning resources, the ministry, however, said that NMA’s administrative and operational cost would be managed by government. Depending on the range and altitude of the peak, NMA has fixed permit fee up to US$ 250 for each foreign climber. After its establishment in 1973, NMA had been handling 15 expedition peaks and 18 climbing peaks since 1977.
Being a non-governmental, non-profit and non-political organization, NMA has been mandated to work as a national alpine association to promote mountain tourism, climbing sports and protect mountain environments.
News by Asian Hiking Team Pvt. Ltd.
