Government delays opening of new peaks for mountaineering

Though mountaineering sector is of crucial importance for tourism development, the government has not shown any interest on unveiling new peaks for mountaineering. “It’s been more than a year that the government-formed task force has submitted its recommendation including opening of some new peaks at the China and India border,” immediate past president of Nepal Mountaineering Association, Ang Tshering Sherpa, said, adding that government, has however, not shown its concern.

The government has not developed any new product or any new package for this tourist season,” he said, adding that the tourist are in search of more new destination and new peaks.

There a number of peaks on Nepal-China and Nepal-India border, which if opened can add bring in more tourists to Nepal that can increase the overall stay period too.

The mountaineering activities creates direct employment for the rural populace apart from development of infrastructure, Sherpa said, expressing his disappointment on lack of government’s proper attention on the sector. “Some two years earlier the government itself formed a 15-member team to look after mountaineering and adventure tourism sector, however even after completion of the team’s tenure, the government yet has not shown any interest on its recommendations,” he said. The task force was formed to revise rules and regulation of trekking, climbing, mountaineering and rafting sector. According to the government plan, the task force had also done a comparative study of international and national mountaineering and adventure tourism sector.

The government has also implemented some of the recommendations like scrapping of royalty for peaks lower than 6,000 metres, to make the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 success. But it has yet to implement a lots of recommendations that could help develop mountaineering sector and reduce negative impact on climbers at base camp as the task force has asked for provisions for climbing team to land below the base camp.

The recommendation also sought provisions for helping Sherpa and radio communication for mountains 8,000 metres or above and one high altitude guide for a team for other mountains.

However, the key recommendation was opening of new peaks for mountaineering. The recommendation also included preparation of route and map with detailed information about mountains. Compulsory use of toilet bags at and above base camps for human waste and making associated agency responsible for proper disposal were also some of the recommendations.