ISLAMABAD/NEPAL: Five years after outlawing solo trekkers on Mount Everest, Nepal’s government has made the ban applicable throughout the country.
Eight of the world’s tallest mountains are found in Nepal, but the country is also well-known for its stunning rural trekking areas.
Tourists who want to walk in distant areas have been asked to work with a government-approved guide or travel in a group.
The cost of search and rescue operations for lone hikers who get lost is substantial, even though trekking is one of the nation’s largest revenue generators.
Director of the Nepal Tourism Board, Mani R Lamichhane, told CNN that traveling alone means no one can aid you in an emergency. “The infrastructure is inadequate in the isolated mountains, but it is excellent if they go to the towns.”
He added: “When tourists are found dead or go missing, even the government can’t track them because they have chosen remote tracks.”
In addition to the challenges caused when trackers go missing in rural areas, Lamichhane says that unlicensed tour guides and companies are also an issue. The tourist director claims these unregistered businesses do not pay taxes and rob Nepalis of their jobs.
In a few instances, the trekking organization has asked us to end these illegal trekking operations. Tourism organizations have been requesting this for a very long period,” he claimed.
The new law is being met with mixed reactions from the climbing and trekking community.
An owner of a well-regarded guiding company with a long history in Nepal, Ian Taylor, says that the move makes sense as more and more people attempt challenging climbs in Nepal.
He told CNN, “Things have drastically changed in the region. You used to see only experienced climbers and hikers in the region, many of them traveling without guides, and they were completely self-sufficient.”
“However, there are far greater numbers of people traveling in the region, and more are tourists, not trekkers. They are not self-sufficient outdoors and therefore need the assistance of experienced guides.”
Taylor adds that the Nepali government can’t vet every visa applicant separately; hence they decided to enact a complete ban.
“As a person who loves the high mountains and visiting the mountain regions of the world, it is extremely disappointing that it has come to this,” Taylor continues.
“We never want to see people’s access to the mountains restricted. However, Nepal’s situation is unique, and changes must be made.”
