Mountaineering and adventure tourism are of crucial importance for tourism in the country, more so for the success of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY 2011). Keeping this in mind, the government has implemented some of the recommendations given by a task force set up to advise the government on changes required in this sector. Now, the royalty for attempting peaks lower than 6,000 metres of height will be nil. To reduce negative impact on climbers at base camp and above that height, the task force has asked for provisions for climbing team to land below the base camp. The recommendation also includes provisions for a helping Sherpa and radio communication obligatory for mountains of 8,000 metres or above and one high altitude guide obligatory for each team for other mountains.
Compulsory use of toilet bags at the base camp and above base camp for human waste and the associated agency will be responsible for the proper disposal of those bags bringing them below the base camp are part of the recommendations. As the approach route prepared for different mountains is not behavioral for some mountains, the teams that want to climb through alternative route should be acknowledged, said the task force. “If climbing for those mountains which are not opened could be opened and the royalty could be reduced, employment opportunities will increase with the increase in climbing activities,” said Ang Tshering Sherpa, immediate past president of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). It suggested to promote mountains and make climbing open for new peaks. Preparation of route and map with detailed information about the mountain is necessary, it said.
Sherpa also advocated for mountaineering activities on peaks lying along the borders. Mountaineering activities on peaks along the border of Nepal, India and China from the Nepal side have been minimal. Only a few teams have attempted these peaks. Mountaineering activities on these peaks can pick up if the government gets serious about it, he said. To make the climbing of peaks along the borders from the Nepal side popular, it is necessary to give concessions in the royalty for 5 years for the climbers, who have climbed the peaks from Nepal side for two times or less within the past 5 years, he said.
According to mountaineering entrepreneurs, provisions such as high climbing fee and appointment of liaison officer for climbing are working as deterrents at times for the industry. Lack of infrastructure development affects the climbing teams expenses and budget. The fact that they are moving to other nations is clear with no increase in the climbing teams visiting Nepal. Mountaineering activities directly gives employment not only restricted to towns.
