Nepal to Restrict Everest Climbing Permits

The Supreme Court of Nepal has issued a directive requiring the country's government to reduce the number of permits issued for climbing Everest and other Himalayan peaks. This decision comes just before the start of the spring climbing season on Everest, as reported by France24.

The court's directive emphasizes the need to "respect the carrying capacity of the mountains," thus necessitating the determination of a maximum limit on climbing permits. However, the court did not specify the exact number of permits, leaving that decision to be made by the Nepalese government after conducting studies on tourist load on Everest and other Himalayan peaks.

This ruling reflects concerns from mountaineers about pollution on the slopes and safety conditions on climbing routes, noted advocate Dipak Bikram Mishra, who previously initiated a petition to limit the number of climbers on Everest.

"We are exerting too much pressure on the mountain, and we need to give it a rest," Mishra said.

The new decision by the Supreme Court also includes restrictions on helicopter use in the mountains, allowing them only for emergency rescue operations. Previously, helicopters were frequently used to transport climbers to base camps for their ascents.

It's worth noting that Nepal has been issuing permits to anyone who applies and is willing to pay $11,000 for an Everest climb. This year, Nepal has already issued permits for climbing its mountains to 945 climbers, including 403 permits for Everest climbs. Last year, this number stood at 478 permits, marking a record high in climbing history.

In other news, The Gaze reported that after years of negotiations, Venice, Italy will start charging 5 euros for entry for day-trippers to protect the UNESCO World Heritage Site from the effects of over-tourism.

The fee is collected directly by the Venice municipality, primarily through a special app, from which visitors can obtain a receipt (QR code) to show during checks. The receipt confirms payment of the fee or the condition of exemption, and it should always be carried along.