KATHMANDU, Aug 13, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Nepal has waived climbing fees for 97 
mountains, officials said on Wednesday, hoping to steer people to its lesser-
known peaks and boost local economies.

Climbers pay for permits on Nepali peaks and the fees vary depending on the 
mountain's height and popularity, with heftier charges for those such as 
Everest.

The 97 mountains, ranging in height from 5,870 metres (19,300 feet) to 7,132 
metres, are located in the western Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.

"We hope it will bring our hidden treasures in the limelight and diversify 
the mountains Nepal offers," Himal Gautam, of Nepal's tourism department, 
told AFP.

It follows a busy spring climbing season in Nepal during which the government 
issued 1,168 climbing permits.

Over half of those were for peaks above 8,000 metres, including Everest, the 
tallest in the world at 8,849 metres.

In contrast, others saw little climbing activity and generated minimal 
revenue from so-called royalty fees.

"These remote areas have immense tourism potential and we hope the local 
economy can benefit," said Gautam.

Nima Nuru Sherpa, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, welcomed 
the decision but said much more was needed to drive interest in remote 
mountains.

"Royalty fees alone is not keeping mountaineers (away) from these areas. We 
need to develop the infrastructure and manpower required for running 
expeditions there," Sherpa said.

Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds 
of climbers every year during the spring and autumn climbing seasons.

A boom in climbers has made mountaineering a lucrative business since Sir 
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa made the first Everest ascent in 
1953.

In February, Nepal increased permit fees for Everest from $11,000 to $15,000 
starting next spring, hoping it will help tackle pollution and boost safety.