VOA新闻杂志2025--Nepal Increases Cost of Permits to Climb Everest

The government of Nepal has increased the cost of a permit to climb Mount¹ Everest by about one-third. Officials say the price increase aims to help reduce pollution and increase safety on the world's highest mountain.

The director of Nepal's tourism department is Narayan Prasad Regmi. He told the French news agency AFP the cost for a permit in the popular spring climbing season will increase from $11,000 to $15,000. Regmi noted² the price had remained the same for about 10 years, so the government decided³ it was time to make a change.

The costs, or fees, for climbing during less popular and more difficult times of year -- such as during winter or the summer monsoon⁴ rains -- have also increased. This includes an increase from $5,500 to $7,500 during the autumn climbing season.

Thousands of climbers come to Nepal each year. The country is home to eight of 14 of the world's tallest mountains over 8,000 meters. Everest is 8,849-meters tall and sits on the border between Nepal and China.

Foreign climbers spend tens of thousands of dollars on their efforts to climb Everest. More than 400 people bought climbing permits for Everest last year. This brought in around $4 million to the government.

Nepal uses the money to remove waste from the mountain and to finance⁵ search and rescue operations.

Some mountain climbing companies worry the higher price could lower the number of climbers wanting to climb Everest from the Nepalese side. The companies warn that some climbers might decide to climb Everest through China.

"Some climbers might shift to Tibet where the facilities are much better," said Mingma G Sherpa. He runs the Imagine Nepal mountaineering company and says Nepal must use the money to improve conditions.

"Our government just increases the royalty⁶, but doesn't do much. It needs to also provide support to the climbers and guides," he added.

Some groups have criticized Nepal for permitting too many climbers on Everest while not doing enough to keep the mountain clean.

Last year, Nepal's government ordered all Everest climbers to carry trackers and bags to remove their human waste. The government approved the fee increase in January, but it was first published on February 3.

I'm Andrew Smith.

Andrew Smith adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting from Agence France-Presse.

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Words in This Story

shift - v. to change to something different

facilities - n. (plural) buildings or other structures that provide basic services such as shelter, water, and electricity

royalty - n. payments made for the use of something

tracker - n. a small device on a person or object that lets others know their exact location and movements

1 mount   

n.山峰，乘用马，框，衬纸；vi.增长，骑上（马）；vt.提升，爬上，装备

参考例句：

• Their debts continued to mount up.他们的债务不断增加。
• She is the first woman who steps on the top of Mount Jolmo Lungma.她是第一个登上珠穆朗玛峰的女人。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 monsoon   

n.季雨，季风，大雨

参考例句：

• The monsoon rains started early this year.今年季雨降雨开始得早。
• The main climate type in that region is monsoon.那个地区主要以季风气候为主要气候类型。

5 finance   

n.财务管理，财政，金融，财源，资金

参考例句：

• She is an expert in finance.她是一名财政专家。
• A finance house made a bid to buy up the entire company.一家信贷公司出价买下了整个公司。

6 royalty   

n.皇家，皇族

参考例句：

• She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
• I waited on tables，and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生， 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。