KATHMANDU: Mt Everest continues to dominate Nepal’s mountaineering economy, generating nearly 79% of total climbing royalties and driving the sector’s earnings to a record NPR 918 million in fiscal year 2081/82 — a 19.08% increase from the previous year.

The Department of Tourism’s annual report, released Thursday by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey, showed that the revenue jump came despite a small drop in expedition teams. Everest alone accounted for 18.4% of all climbing permits, while other peaks over 8,000m made up 27.63%, 7,000–8,000m peaks 16.72%, and those below 7,000m 37.24%.

Growing numbers on the mountains

In 2081/82, Nepal welcomed 2,548 climbers — 555 women and 1,996 men — from 87 countries across 303 expedition teams, up from 2,372 climbers the previous year. The busiest peaks were Ama Dablam (621 climbers), Everest (469), Manaslu (311), Himlung Himal (190), and Lhotse (127).

The largest number of climbers came from the United States (294 women, 234 men), followed by China (53 women, 141 men), India (30 women, 162 men), the UK (25 women, 154 men), and Russia (44 women, 103 men).

New peaks and expanded trails

To diversify mountaineering opportunities and spread tourism benefits, the government has opened 57 additional peaks, raising the total number of climbable mountains to 461 out of Nepal’s estimated 1,300 peaks. Of these, 102 remain untouched by climbers.

The Great Himalayan Trail has also been extended by 75 km, bringing its total length to 640 km. The extension is part of Nepal’s strategy to attract high-value trekkers through more varied and scenic routes.

Policy reforms for better management

The government has amended the Mountaineering Rules, 2059, aiming to improve governance, ensure fair practices, and strengthen oversight in both the climbing and trekking sectors.