In a move aimed at promoting tourism and boosting economic activities in underdeveloped regions, the Government of Nepal has announced a full waiver of peak climbing royalties for mountains located in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. This decision, made during the cabinet meeting held on July 27, will be effective for the current fiscal year and the next, offering a two-year relief for climbers.
The proposal for this exemption was tabled by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Pandey, and received swift cabinet approval. The move is expected to incentivize mountaineering activities in these regions, which hold vast but underutilized tourism potential.
Currently, a total of 97 peaks in the Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces are open for climbing. Under existing mountaineering regulations, climbers—both Nepali and foreign—are required to pay a royalty (known locally as “salami”) within one year of receiving a climbing permit. The fee varies based on the altitude and popularity of the mountain, ranging from $175 to $15,000 for foreign climbers, and from Rs 5,000 to Rs 75,000 for Nepali nationals.
This exemption is expected to ease the financial burden on mountaineers, promote expedition activity, and help bring economic gains to the remote mountainous communities in the two provinces. With Nepal having collected over Rs 770 million in mountaineering royalties in recent years, the government is strategically shifting focus toward equitable regional tourism development—even at the cost of temporary revenue reductions.
