Himalayan Tourism Boom: Mountaineering Royalties Inject NPR 1.25 Billion Into Nepal’s Economy
Nepal's Department of Tourism has issued a staggering 1,181 climbing permits to international expeditionists from 79 nations for the Spring 2026 season, with Mount Everest leading both climber volume and state revenue generation.
Global interest in Nepal’s Himalayan peaks has scaled new heights this spring season, with 1,181 mountaineers from 79 countries successfully securing climbing permits. According to official data released by the Department of Tourism (DoT)—which regulates expeditions on peaks above 6,500 meters—the influx of international climbers has generated a massive NPR 1.258 billion in government royalties. As expected, the world's highest peak, Mount Everest (Sagarmatha), remains the premier attraction. DoT Information Officer Himal Gautam confirmed that 494 climbers from 55 nations have been cleared to summit Everest this season alone, yielding a dominant NPR 1.078 billion in individual peak royalties. On the demographic front, Chinese nationals represent the largest single-country cohort on Everest with 109 permits, followed closely by the United States (77), India (61), and the United Kingdom (32).