Proposal to extend validity of climbing permits stuck in finance ministry

The government's failure to take decision on a proposal to extend climbing permit of mountaineers, who abandoned their expedition last spring because of the devastating earthquake, could hit the expedition business this spring, according to expedition operators.

They say many climbers were still waiting for the government decision, while some have already canceled their trips.

“I had seven expeditions of around 100 mountaineers last year. Around 50 percent of them have already cancelled their Nepal visit, saying that they won't have sufficient time for preparation even if the permit is extended,” Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, managing director of Seven Summits Treks, told Republica. “Similarly, 40 percent of them are ready to come to Nepal if the validity of permit is extended this week.”

Sherpa also said Nepal could relay a positive message in the world by extending permit at the earliest. “I am hopeful that the government will take decision on the issue very soon,” Sherpa, who is also the senior vice president of Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN), said.

The Department of Tourism (DoT) has proposed to the finance ministry extend validity of climbing permit of 801 mountaineers of 103 teams who left the expedition midway after the earthquake. The department had issued permit for 32 peaks in spring last year.

A senior official at Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) told Republica that proposal is stuck at the legal department of Ministry of Finance (MoF). MoCTCA will be tabling it in the cabinet for proposal only after getting approval from the finance ministry.

“We are very serious about extending validity of climbing permits as it won't inflict any loss on national treasury. Rather it would help disseminate positive message about Nepal throughout the world,” the official said, adding that the ministry had sought approval from the finance ministry on January 3.

Last year, the government had extended permit of around 300 climbers, who had to left expedition midway due to avalanche in Mt Everest in April 2014, for five years until 2019.

Chandra Prasad Rijal, president of TAAN, said government indecisiveness has hampered tourism industry a lot. “The decision can benefit more than 800 climbers. If we can inform them in time that their permit has been extended they will not only visit Nepal but also tell the rest of the world that Nepal is safe,” he added.

An official of MoF say the proposal to extend validity of climbing permit is still under consideration as there is no policy to guide the ministry in this regard.

Of the total 801 climbers affected by the earthquake, 265 hold permit to climb Mt Everest. According to the Department of Tourism (DoT), only one team, so far, has applied for permission to climb Mt Everest in this spring.

DoT charges $11,000 per mountaineer to climb Mt Everest

“We are not refunding money; we are only inviting them to climb our peaks. This shows that we are concerned about them. It will help to disseminate positive message about Nepal as that the country is ready to welcome tourists,” Govinda Bahadur Karki, director general of Department of Tourism, said, adding that the decision should be taken soon as the expedition season is about to begin.

source:republica,7 feb 2016