Data from the Nepal Tourism Department (DoT) reveals that climbers from 37 countries will be scaling six mountain peaks, this autumn climbing season in Nepal.

Following is the number of climbers who will be climbing the different Nepal peaks in Autumn 2019:

“We have seen a surge in the number of climbers in autumn season. This could be because of the country’s good tourism image,” said Surendra Thapa, Information Officer, the DoT.

However, the Department has observed a decline in the number of mountains people choose to climb, this autumn climbing season. Only six mountains’ permits have been obtained till date.

During the same period last year, nine mountain peak’s permits were issued by the DoT.

Thapa says that mountaineering is crucial to tourism in Nepal as it increases climbers’ length of stay and spending as mountaineers spend days together to get used to the high altitude of the mountains.

“A single mountaineer employs an average of 11 people during climbing season. Expedition companies need guides, porters and life support, among others. This creates jobs for many,” added Thapa.

The more mountaineers visit Nepal for mountaineering, the more it will benefit the Nepali economy and its Visit Nepal 2020, says the Department of Tourism.

Nepal – Mountain Climbing Fee/Cost in Autumn 2019

• Mountains up to 6,500m – NPR 2,000 + USD 125 Royalty (cost per person)
• Mountains higher than 8,000m – NPR 5,000 + USD 900 Royalty (cost per person)

Revenue Earned From Autumn Season Mountaineering

The Department of Tourism has revealed that it received NPR 24.18 million as royalty from the above expeditions teams.

Earlier in Autumn 2018, it earned NPR 13.30 million from climbing permits, alone.

The Department says that a total of 414 Nepali mountain peaks have been opened to mountaineers from around the world. 86 of them are still unclimbed.

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The organization said that the country’s travel and tourism contributed to 7.9 percent of its GDP last year, up from 3.6 percent. The total contribution of Nepal’s travel and tourism sector to its GDP was NPR 195 billion.

These statistics shed light on the amount of economic activity generated by industries such as airlines, travel agencies, other transportation services hotels, leisure industries and restaurants.

According to the Travel and Tourism Economic Impact 2019 report released in April 2019, Nepal’s tourism industry is expected to create more than 1.35 million jobs directly and indirectly by 2029.

Overall, Nepal’s travel and tourism sector grew at 3.9 percent, contributing a record USD 8.8 trillion and 319 million jobs to the world economy in 2018. This growth percentage is noteworthy as it is higher than the world gross domestic product growth rate, for the eight years in the row.

As per the report, domestic tourists contributed to 56 percent of the total revenue of NPR 240.7 billion generated by the tourism industry in 2018.

Domestic Tourists Highest Contributors to Tourism Revenue

Nepal Tourism Board CEO Deepak Raj Joshi said that domestic tourists started touring Nepal after the 2015 earthquake and there is massive tourist movement.

The following are the areas of tourism that witnessed a sizeable number of domestic tourists:

• Besides traditional leisure destinations such as Pokhara and Chitwan, the Annapurna Circuit trekking route has become a major attraction for domestic tourists, who throng to the destination in huge numbers
• The number of sightseers by motorcycle has increased significantly in the Beni-Jomson region. The stretch becomes a favorite sightseeing destination after the construction of the road between the two points
• Lumbini, the birthplace of the divine Gautam Buddha draws scores of Nepalis every year. Over 1.55 million tourists visited Lumbini in 2017, out of which 1.25 million visitors were domestic ones
• Nepal’s biggest and deepest freshwater lake in Mugu, has also been attracting domestic visitors for the past few years. The destination has been recently gaining popularity among Nepalis

Nepal Achieves 1 Million Tourism Mark

The Himalayan nation recorded over 1 million foreign tourist visits to Nepal in 2018, when close to 1.17 million visitors from countries around the world. The figure was largely attributed to a jump in arrivals from China, India, Sri Lanka, US, and UK.

On an ending note, the report states the global tourism sector will create 100 million new jobs globally over the next 10 years, accounting for 421 million jobs per year.

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250 climbers began their journey to the world’s highest peak on the night of May 21, 2019 from Camp IV located at 7,900 meters. With just a week to go before the spring climbing season closes, the mountaineers were eager to complete their climb by the morning of May 22, 2019.

Moreover, the climbers were supported by a favorable weather condition that lasted throughout the duration of the climb. The 24 hours between both days were considered to be the longest-ever single-day weather window in history and was declared a marathon climb.

“As the weather was favorable all day, the expedition was never-ending. The climb may have ended at 3:00 pm,” said Shrestha.

Not all 250 climbers were successful with their climb but more than 200 individuals scaled the Everest.

“Details of all the successful climbers have yet to arrive, but based on our inquiries of various expeditions, more than 200 climbers have made it to the top,” said Gyanendra Shrestha, the Everest Base Camp Government Liaison Officer.

200 Climbers – Mount Everest Experiences Traffic Jam

Shrestha reported that many climbers who reached the South Summit on Wednesday morning complained of waiting for over two hours in queues to climb the peak.

Heavy traffic results in risky conditions for climbers, especially when the weather takes an unexpected turn. They can also be dangerous because mountaineers are exposed to thin air and many fall short of oxygen in their final stage of the climb.

Past Records

• In 2012, close to 260 climbers made their way to the summit but only 179 made it to the top due to a small weather window
• In May 2016, 204 climbers climbed the peak, breaking the previous climbers’ record

This year, the Everest climbing season began with a team of eight rope-fixing, high-altitude climbers on May 14, 2019. The first climbing window closed on May 16, 2019 after 150 climbers summited Everest.

Close to 400 climbers have reached Everest’s summit as of Wednesday ever since the climbing season began.

Overall 868 individuals received permits for climbing Nepal’s tall mountains this spring season.

Also Read:

• Spring 2019: 75 People Climb Mt. Everest Successfully!
• Nepal’s Kami Rita Sherpa Sets Record, Climbs Mt. Everest 23rd Time!
• Spring 2019: 8-Member Team Mark Mount Everest Entry!
• Remeasure Mt. Everest Height: Nepali Team Completes Landmark Survey!

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The third consecutive incident of a Russian national Dmitril Stepanishin, who died making a solo flight in Pokhara on March 05, 2019, made the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to stop solo paragliding in Pokhara.

Surprisingly, all the three incidents took place in the last one-week period. #NepalParagliding

Earlier on March 03, 2019, a Romanian national Ebe Chisjer (40) lost his life in paragliding after his flight crash-landed into the Phewa Lake.

Later on March 04, 2019, two pilots have suffered injuries in a similar accident at Machhapuchchhre Rural Municipality and Modi Rural Municipality in the Pokhara district.

And, the third incident on March 05, 2019 occurred after Dmitril lost his control soon after a solo flight from the Sarangkot Hill in Pokhara and crashed into a hill, says Inspector Ganesh Subedi of the Kaski District.

Considering the series of incidents, CAAN called on for halt of solo paragliding flights in the region with immediate effect until further notice.  #NepalAdventureTourism

Flight beyond the specified limits by some foreign pilots is also behind CAAN’s decision.

Sindhupalchok As Paragliding Destination

Meanwhile, authorities of Sindhupalchok district are striving hard to develop the region as Nepal’s paragliding destination.

Towards this end, a group of paragliding enthusiasts have conducted three successful flight tests at Kadambas in Chautara Sangachokgadhi Municipality, which turned out to be a grand success.

According to Milan Pakhrin of Lamachaur Paragliding Organisation, test flights were conducted from a hill point called Lamachaurdanda situated at the height of 1,300 feet.

Member of the Paragliding and Hang-Gliding Association Umesh KC led the testing team.

“The test flights were successful in view of geographical structure, height and air pressure,” said Pakhrin. 

Continuing the pace, the Lamachaur Paragliding Organization is organizing more test flights on March 9, 2019 with the budget of NPR 400,000.

KC is hopeful about Lamachaurdanda’s potential to become Nepal’s popular commercial paragliding hub. “The beach of Sunkoshi or Indrawati could become ideal landing spot,” he adds.

Municipality Mayor Aman Singh Tamang has also extended his office’s support to the Lamachaur Paragliding Organization in developing ‘Lamachaurdanda’ as a paragliding destination.

“We will help them build necessary infrastructures and offer technical support,” Tamang said in a statement.

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The Valley-based Kathmandu Paragliding Company had shut its operations three years ago, citing a decline in tourist arrivals for adventure sports activities, after the 2015 earthquake.

The company finally resumed its operations three weeks back!

Built with an investment of NPR 30 million, Kathmandu Paragliding was established in 2007 and is currently in a joint venture with a South Korea based Paralove Paragliding company, where Korean firm owns 49 percent of the shares.

The company currently has six pilots including four foreigners and is also planning to introduce paragliding pilot training. The company’s paragliding flight takes off at Chanpkharka (2,100 meters) on the outer rim of the Kathmandu Valley.

Rise in Foreign Tourists

Speaking on the come-back, Narayan Wagle, Owner of Kathmandu Paragliding, informed that they are operating 10-15 flights a day since resuming operations three weeks back.

“Paragliding flights depend on weather conditions. We have operated as much as 20 flights a day,” said Wagle.

He went to say that the paragliding service offers tourists an unforgettable experience of the Kathmandu Valley.

Wagle is hopeful that the paragliding service will boost tourism activity in the Kathmandu Valley.

“The valley may not be as popular as Pokhara for adventurous activities. But we are offering a thrilling experience of paragliding to adventure enthusiasts,” adds Wagle.

According to Wagle, the company started witnessing a rise in a number of foreign tourists since its come-back, with most of them being Chinese.

A paragliding flight gives a panoramic view of mountain ranges and an amazing feel of the Kathmandu Valley while in the sky. The service’s landing point is at the Godavari.

Adventure enthusiasts can choose between solo and tandem flights, say, officials.

Paragliding all the Way in Kathmandu??

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Yes! The country decided to scale the height of the mammoth mount only to measure its height.

In an expedition that begin in February 2018, Nepal’s Department of Survey (DoS) sent a team of 27 members to conduct this operation.

According to DoS, it is measuring the mount’s height after the massive 2015 earthquake devastated Nepal. Many countries have conducted expeditions on the mount bringing out different results on its height. However, Nepal has never been on an expedition to the tallest mountain within its boundary.

Height Scaled Until Now

DoS said, so far the measurement is complete up to 2,800 m from sea level.

Additionally, the team has installed temporary benchmarks within a gap of every 200 m and permanent ones in every 2 kms to eliminate any scope for error in measurement.

At ground level, the team has measured 170 km in distance from Madar in Siraha district to the southern edge of Sulukhubu district that is home to Mt. Qomolangma.

“We completed the work of precise leveling in 170-km-long distance from Madar to Solukhumbu. Now, we have to work on the 78-km-long distance to complete the work,” said Sushil Dangol, Coordinator, Everest Height Measurement Secretariat, DoS.

Rain Obstructs Survey

The progress of the mission was hindered due to rainy season throughout July, August, and September.

Resuming works on October 24, 2018, the Department sent the 27-member team with two tasks— continue precise leveling in Solukhumbu district and gravity observation works in several locations in districts surrounding Mt. Qomolangma.

“The work of precise leveling will be performed up to the height around 4,000 m from the sea level. Another mythology–trigonometrical leveling will be performed above the areas from 4,000 m because human and equipment cannot be taken there for the precise leveling easily,” said Bibek Nepal, Engineer at Everest Height Measurement Secretariat.

DoS has established a deadline of 2019-end for measurement competition and results.

Following are the height estimates made by several countries and survey groups:

• According to India’s 1954 survey, Nepal has so far recognized 8,848 m as Qomolangma’s altitude
• China which first estimated the mount’s height in 1975, reassessed its height at 8,844.43 and further 3.5 m with snow
• US National Geography and Museum of Science, Boston measured the height of the peak at 8,850 m including snow in 1999

 
DoS has planned to measure the height of the mountain with and without snow and rope in an international expert during data processing to claim international recognition for the achievement.

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While it’s equally exciting for every tourist, Europeans hold high relevance for adventure sports like trekking, mountaineering and cycling, among others, which Nepal is famous for.

In such a move attracting European adventure enthusiasts, the Nepal Tourism Board and Trekking Agents Association of Nepal jointly hosted organized Alpinmesse in Innsbruck, Austria during Oct 20-21, 2018.

This edition marks Nepal’s first-ever participation in the fair that is intended to promote the country’s potential in adventure activities such as adventure water sports.

The fair is of high significance for Austrians owing to their inclination to outdoor activities and Europeans’ basic inclination to adventures.

As part of the fair, Nepal presented its unique wildlife experiences, exciting adventure activities, eye-catchy landscapes and untapped natural scenic beauty.

Besides fair, a press conference was also held where the Nepali officials made a special presentation titled ‘Destination Nepal’.

As part of the press conference, the organizers also gave a special briefing about the Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign, Nepal’s potential as one of the world’s most-sought tourism destination and other Nepali products.

Non-Resident Nepalis (RN) Austria supported the show that also witnessed the participation of Counsellor/Deputy-Permanent Representative Permanent Mission of Nepal to UN in Austria Amber Bahadur Karki and the first Everest climber from Austria Prof. Wolfgang Nairz.

Media was briefed about Nepal’s potential in tourism infrastructure and promotion of related products.

The fair offered traditional Nepali cuisine to visitors besides also showcasing Nepalese cultural dances.

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Highlighting the growth prospects of Nepal tourism, Bharat Kumar Regmi, Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of Nepal called on the Indian business community and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the country’s investor-friendly industrial and investment policies.

Meanwhile, Babu Ram Sigdyal, Second Secretary, Embassy of Nepal pitched on the need for taking business advantage of Nepal’s potential in adventure tourism.

Sigdyal also highlighted the need for tourism cooperation between the two countries through development of special packages that woo tourists of both the nations.

Highlighting governmental policies, the experts mentioned Nepal Government’s openness to work in collaboration with private players and cited Nepal’s steps towards sustainable development.

Adding to the discussion, the Secretary of Kerala Tourism Department Rani George pitched on the need for setting up of a cultural exchange program between Nepal and Kerala.

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The 30^th Annual Rafting Festival 2018 held under the theme ‘Let’s Protect our Rivers for Tourism and Environment’ witnessed more than 400 local and foreign participants.

As part of the festival, an annual white-water rafting was organized at the Benighat-Phisling section of Trishuli River, 40 km away from Kathmandu.

“Being enriched with water resources, Nepal has a huge prospect for water adventures. Thus, through this event, we aim to promote water adventure rafting which highly contributes to the country’s tourism,” said Shiva Adhikari, general secretary of Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), an umbrella organization of rafting agencies that organized the event.

Besides tourism promotion, the festival was also aimed at protecting and preserving the rivers across Nepal for environmental conservation.

Sharing his experience about the festival, Sujata Bhattarai, a health professional and one of the festival participants said, “It was my first time and I enjoyed paddling along with the water waves. It’s an amazing experience.”

On the occasion, NARA pitched for the Nepal’s status as the best destination for adventurous water tourism.

Among various other adventure sports such as cannoning, kayaking and stand-up paddle, Nepal has a special place for rafting because of a good number of river bodies across the country.

While there are nearly 6000 big and small rivers across the country, 16 big rivers including Trishuli, Kali Gandaki, Sunkoshi, Bhotekoshi and Karnali, among others allow river rafting under government’s approval.

Nepali rafting industry has around 65 river rafting agencies and nearly 1,500 rafting guides.

Also Read: 

• Adventure Tourism – The Extreme Side of Nepal

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