The earthquake that hit Nepal last month may have casualties apart from the more than 8,000 Nepalese citizens that perished during the deadly quake. Apart from damage in its infrastructure, the climbing and trekking industry in Nepal is also in dire straits.
A significant draw of Nepal's tourism industry is the world's highest mountain, Mt. Everest, which attracts a large number of adventure-seekers every year. Climbers are known to spend $11,000 for a permit to climb the mountain, and though these permits only account for a few million dollars per year, the trekking industry in the country is valued at around $340 million, according to Reuters.
However, due to the rather disorganized response of the Nepalese government to the recent disaster, a number of mountaineers are now eyeing the Tibet route in China to reach the mountain's summit. This is especially due to the fact that the permits issued to the climbers are set to expire soon.
Amateur climber Carsten Pedersen, who has already spent more than $110,000 on three previous attempts at climbing Everest, expresses frustration at the way the Nepalese government has been handling the crisis. If he does try again, he is probably going to take the Tiber route, according to China Daily.
"To every reaction, there is going to be a reaction... My reaction if they don't extend the permit? I will probably go to Tibet to climb it. It is not that complicated," he said.
If the number of prospective climbers that will shift to the China route continues to rise, Nepal's trekking and climbing industry would take a major blow. Mt. Everest, of course, plays a very significant role in the industry, according to Reuters.
Former head of Nepal's tourism department, Prachanda Man Shrestha, states that the industry will definitely suffer if mountaineers choose the Tibet route over Nepal's.
"This one mountain has an oversized impact on the rest of the tourism in the country," he said.
However, trekking agencies as well as mountaineers do understand that the country has its hands full with more pressing concerns after the earthquake.
The head of Nepal's tourism department, Tulsi Prasad Gautam, states that the government is not currently in a position to refund fees, since the fees go immediately into state coffers after they are paid, according to China Daily.
A decision on whether or not extensions on the climbing permits of the mountaineers is set to be made in the next few months.
