Extract from daily Nepali Language Newspaper * The Gorkhapatra*

 To lower Mountaineering Royalty Fees of Nepalese Mountains

Kathmandu 17 January, Wednesday, the Mountain Royalty Revision & Suggestions Committee of Mountaineering Royalty fee has advised to ‘lower Mountaineering Royalty Fees of Nepalese Mountains. The suggested proposal was submitted to the  Minister for Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation Mr. Prithivi Subba Gurung to keep the Spring season royalty fees the same, and recommended to lower the royalty fees for the autumn season by 50% and winter season by 75%. However it was advised not to amend the Royalty fees for Mt. Ama Dablam for the spring and autumn season.

 Less popular mountains, having three or less expeditions in a fiscal year, Mountains in the mid and far western developing region, Mountains permitted to climb from Jeshtha 15 (29 May) to Bhadau 15 (1 September) and Poush 1 (16 December) to 15 Falgun (27 February) could be discounted as mentioned in the Mountaineering Act -2059.

 It is mentioned and suggested in the proposal that the Mountains lying in the mid and far western region are to be free of full royalty fees for a period of five years.

 The proposal advises to implement that a team can have a maximum of 15 members (the present system only allows a team with 7 members and 5 additional members; 12 in total). The proposal suggests that the royalty fees should be broken down into a per person basis rather than bulk group sum..

 The proposal also requested to open a few new peaks as per the demand of mountaineers, to also popularize climbing Mt. Cho Oyu from Nepal side, to fix icefall ladder and to provide a proportion of the royalty fee obtained from the mountaineering team to the local inhabitants of the respective mountain district in accordance with the law, to speed local development..

 The mountaineering team needs to pay the royalty fee according to the mountain and climbing route.

 Currently, the royalty fee for Mountains above 7501 meter and below 8000 meter is USD 4000 for a team of 7 members and USD 500 for each additional member.

 Presently more than one thousand three hundred ten peaks are identified for climbing.

 After receiving the proposal from the Mountain Royalty Revision & Suggestion Committee Minister Subba Gurung made a remark that the reduced royalty fee will contribute in development of Mountaineering in Nepal. He also made a remark that the proposal will be implemented soon.

 He said that after the suggested proposal is implemented, more mountaineers and tourists can be attracted to adventure tourism, and their stay in Nepal can be lengthened. 

 Last Bhadau (August), Nepal Government's Minister level decision authorized Mr. Dinesh Hari Adhikari, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation to form the above committee under his coordination.

 The Mountain Royalty Revision and Suggestion committee expressed that compared to Nepal, royalty fees in China and Pakistan are currently cheaper. They also submitted a proposal by opening new peaks and to make Nepal very attractive to the climbers.

 Other member of the Committee are  President of Nepal Mountaineering Association Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa, President of TAAN Mr. Jyoti Adhikari, President of Everest Summiters Association Mr. Ongchu Sherpa, Representative of Ministry of Finance Mr. Mahendra Bahadur Baniya and Representative of Ministry of Law and Parliament affairs Mr. Bishnu Kazi Thapa.

 Mr. Khadananda Dhakal. Under-Secretary of Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation is the Member Secretary of the above Committee.