High-level team at Everest Base Camp to monitor climbing condition

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, May 18: A high-level government delegation led by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Pandey, reached Everest Base Camp on Saturday to conduct on-site monitoring of the 2025 Everest climbing season. 

The visit aims to evaluate climbing conditions and gather direct input from climbers, guides and local stakeholders to inform upcoming tourism policy reforms.

The special field visit was organised under the coordination of the Nepal Tourism Board. 

The delegation included Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, State Minister for Tourism Arun Chaudhary, Acting Tourism Secretary Indu Ghimire, Nepal Tourism Board CEO Deepak Raj Joshi, Director General of the Department of Tourism Dr. Narayan Prasad Regmi and Nepal Mountaineering Association President Nima Nuru Sherpa.

During a special event held at the base camp, participants engaged in detailed discussions on the impact of climate change, the livelihoods of Himalayan communities, the safety and welfare of expedition workers and the need for inclusive reforms in tourism policies.

Minister Pandey also announced that a national-level ‘Tourism Dialogue’ will be held on May 21 under the leadership of the Prime Minister, focusing on the challenges, opportunities and solutions in the Everest region. He emphasised that the voices of local communities and climbers will be incorporated into policy and that a new Tourism Act currently under discussion in the National Assembly aims to address safety and welfare issues in the mountaineering sector.

Highlighting the importance of Everest and the Sherpa community, Minister Pandey said that a ‘Summiteers’ Summit’ will be held on May 29 to mark International Everest Day. “Everest is the pride of Nepal and the Sherpa community, which gives it identity, is our pride. The government is committed to long-term structural reforms in the mountaineering sector,” he said.

Tourism Board CEO Deepak Raj Joshi reaffirmed the board’s commitment to sustainable mountaineering and improving the quality of Himalayan tourism. “We are working to make Everest a safer, more organised and responsible destination. Local participation, worker welfare and environmental sensitivity are at the heart of our efforts,” he said.

Climbers and guides raised concerns over technical and logistical issues during expeditions, including mobile devices displaying ‘China Time’ at higher camps, drone flight restrictions and a lack of clear digital mapping. They urged the government to take these matters seriously.

The event also focused on long-term strategies for sustainable tourism, human-centred management and environmental protection. Participants presented practical suggestions and ministers and officials pledged to incorporate them into policy.

Summiteers’ submit 12-point reform proposal

Record-breaking climber Kami Rita Sherpa, along with fellow mountaineers and stakeholders, presented a 12-point proposal to the government. The proposal calls for permanent and temporary infrastructure along the climbing route, mandatory GPS tracking for climbers, upgraded medical facilities, improved communication and digital mapping, better insurance and fair wages for workers, gender-inclusive workplace policies and transparent expedition fees.

The Tourism Ministry and the Nepal Tourism Board have committed to implementing the recommendations through policy instruments such as the upcoming Tourism Act, Himalayan Safety Strategy, and regional development programmes.