The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation of Nepal has introduced the "Bill to Amend and Consolidate Prevailing Laws Related to Tourism, 2081 (2025)" to reform the tourism sector, with a particular focus on mountaineering regulations. This legislation, proposed on 18 April 2025, addresses the shortcomings of the Tourism Act, 2035 (1978), which has been unable to regulate the evolving tourism industry effectively. The bill aims to enhance tourist safety, promote sustainable development, and ensure the sector’s contribution to the national economy.
According to Tourism Minister Badri Prasad Pandey,
“The bill is introduced to address the limitations of the existing Tourism Act, 2035 (1978), which has been unable to effectively regulate the evolving tourism sector. The current law fails to meet contemporary demands, particularly in managing emerging tourism activities and aligning with changing market needs. As tourism serves as a key medium for attracting high-spending visitors, the new bill aims to regulate and organize the industry systematically, ensuring sustainable development and addressing modern challenges through updated legal provisions.” Upon enactment, the Tourism Act, 2035 (1978), will be repealed. Below are the key provisions relevant to mountaineering as outlined in the bill.
01. Regulation of Access to Himalayan Peaks (Section 10)
The Government of Nepal, through the Ministry, shall publish a notice in the Nepal Gazette to designate Himalayan peaks for mountaineering or to restrict access for specified periods due to specific reasons. The procedures for opening or closing peaks shall be as prescribed by the Ministry.
02. Revised Permit Provisions (Section 11)
Peaks below a height specified in the Nepal Gazette shall be exempt from permit requirements.
For peaks requiring permits, all expedition members—including the expedition leader, guides, Sherpas, support staff, and liaison officer—must undergo a mandatory health examination at a government-recognized health institution within 30 days prior to applying for the permit. Failure to obtain health clearance disqualifies the individual from receiving a permit.
Additionally, climbers applying for a Mount Everest permit must provide a verified summit certificate of a minimum 7,000-meter peak in Nepal, which the Department of Tourism (DoT) will authenticate.
03. Registration of Record-Intending Climbs (Sections 13 and 23)
Climbers aiming to set specific records during their expedition must declare their intent and provide details of the intended record when applying for a permit.
Upon successful completion, the summit certificate issued by the DoT will include the record, provided it was declared during the permit application process.
04. Transfer of Royalty Fees in Exceptional Circumstances (Section 14)
In the event of an expedition failure due to civil unrest, external aggression, natural disasters, or pandemics, the royalty fee paid shall not be refunded. However, the expedition team may transfer the royalty fee to a new expedition on a different peak if undertaken within two years from the date of the original permit issuance.
05. Route Adherence and Flexibility (Section 15)
Expedition teams are required to follow the route specified in their permit. In exceptional circumstances necessitating a route change, the team must consult the DoT. If communication with the DoT is not possible, the liaison officer assigned to the expedition may authorize the route change after verification. Additionally, the DoT may coordinate rope-fixing on peaks to facilitate safe expeditions when necessary.
The Department of Tourism, if needed, can manage rope fixing on mountains for expeditions.
06. Mandatory Employment of Nepali Expedition Staff (Section 17)
All expedition staff, including the Sirdar, guides, Sherpas, and support personnel, must be Nepali citizens.
07. Environmental Protection and Worker Welfare Fund (Section 20)
The Government of Nepal shall establish an Environmental Protection and Mountain Worker Welfare Fund to support social security for mountain workers and to fund environmental conservation efforts.
Contributions to the fund may come from expedition workers, tourism industries, and related institutions, with garbage deposit fees specifically allocated for environmental protection initiatives.
08. Royalty Fee Waivers and Concessions (Section 25)
The bill allows the Government of Nepal to waive royalty fees for Nepali or any joint Nepal-International expedition team on designated peaks.
Additionally, the government may offer royalty concessions for specific peaks, as notified through the Nepal Gazette, to promote mountaineering activities.
09. Tourism Act 2035 (1978) officially repealed (Section 74)
One of Nepal’s earliest tourism acts is set to rest now to be replaced by the new tourism bill.
These are the major changes in the new bill. Probably the most talked change is the requirement of a minimum 7000er summit in Nepal to apply for Everest. There ought to be some good reason behind this decision; however, if enacted, there’s not much either we or a climber can do except for adopting the changes.
In this regard, we have selected a few 7000-meter mountains that we have organized a good many times, have a well-set operation base, and are accessible.
