“So far, only two expedition teams have formally approached us showing interest to climb Mt Everest,” said Surendra Sapkota, under-secretary of Ministry of Tourism who is posted at the Division. [break]
“Apart from the two teams, none have approached us for climbing any mountain.”
Sapkota said that generally by this time there is flurry of expedition teams approaching the Division seeking permits to climb mountains in the country.
“Entrepreneurs in the mountaineering line that I have talked to are jittery and say that the global economic downturn might impact this season’s turnout of climbers as mountaineering is an expensive sport,” he added.
Mountaineering is a major revenue earner for the government, and its economic benefit to the private tourism sector is also immense. The government alone earned revenue of Rs 35.4 million from climbing royalties in the last season from September to November 2008, which was a 45 percent rise in revenue compared to the same period in 2007.
A total of 154 expeditions that involved 1137 climbers climbed 43 mountains of the country in autumn 2008.
Weather affects skiing
Sapkota said that though March is generally a period when skiers enjoy skiing in some parts of the Annapurna range, no skiing team has arrived so far this season.
“We have reports that there is very little snow to ski on owing to rising temperatures,” he said. “Teams are waiting to visit Nepal for skiing. But if there isn’t enough snow, the teams might opt to go to other countries,” he added.
The only silver-lining so far is that six expeditions visited the country last winter, of which one summited Mt. Makalu in the second week of February.
This is a record. Last year, there were no expeditions in winter.
bikash@myrepublica.com
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