The Department of Immigration (DoI) has taken action against a trekking agency for guiding a foreign national into a restricted region without the required permit.
Multi Adventure Pvt Ltd was penalized after it led German citizen Martin Schramm into the Kanchenjunga area of Taplejung before the authorized permit period began. This marks the first penalty issued under the Immigration Act, 1992 (2049 BS). The agency has been fined NRs 40,000.
Under existing regulations, foreign nationals must secure a trekking permit from the DoI before entering restricted zones. The Trekking Permit Rules, 1994 (2051 BS) require trekking agencies to submit applications on behalf of trekkers prior to their entry.
In this case, the agency had obtained a 10-day permit effective from October 25, but the trekking group entered the Kanchenjunga region a day earlier. The assigned trekking guide, Daila Sherpa, had also accompanied the group into the restricted area prior to the official permit date. Sherpa has been reported to the Tourism Board for further action.
The DoI has designated certain areas across 15 districts as restricted due to border and security sensitivities. These include Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpa, Simkot and Namkha in Humla, Manaslu in Gorkha, Kanchenjunga, Gaurishankar and Lamabagar in Dolakha, as well as Kimathanka, Chekampur, and Chhunchhet, among others, according to department spokesperson Tikaram Dhakal.
