Director General of the Department of Tourism Ramkrishna Lamichhane has said that preparations are being made to manage mountaineering based on the actual carrying capacity of major mountains including Mount Everest. He also informed that clear procedures, rescue policies, waste management and agency standards will be improved to make mountaineering safer, more organized and of international standard.

Speaking at the 2026 spring mountaineering activity review program organized by the Nepal Tourism Board on Monday, Director General Lamichhane said that the number of Everest climbers this year is the highest ever and the state has collected the most revenue in history from mountaineering royalties. He said that this year's mountaineering season is relatively safe and the number of tragic incidents is lower than in previous years. 'Foreign currency has entered the country many times more than the royalties collected by the state from mountaineering.' This sector has created a large number of jobs and has also directly benefited the tourism industry,' he said. Director General Lamichhane said that a new policy is now needed with the sustainability of mountain tourism at the center. According to him, since the pressure is currently concentrated on only a few limited mountains, including Everest, there is a need to expand mountaineering to other mountains from east to west. He informed that a scientific study will be conducted with the participation of geologists, the Nepal Mountaineering Association, educational institutions and businessmen on how many climbers the major mountains including Everest and Ama Dablam can support in a season or a day. Lamichhane said that the increasing amount of garbage in the high mountainous areas has become another serious challenge. Stating that the amount of gas cylinders, oxygen cylinders and other garbage is increasing from the base camp to the upper areas, he said that a tracking system will be developed, responsibility will be clarified and an effective model of cleaning will be implemented.

Director General Lamichhane said that complaints received from climbers during mountaineering are taken seriously and now a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) with a legal basis will be prepared to clarify the responsibilities of mountaineers, trekking agencies, guides and support staff. He also pointed out that improvements are needed in insurance. Currently, most insurances do not cover accidents above the base camp and this needs to be improved immediately. Lamichhane informed that the government has already prepared a new rescue procedure to modernize the rescue system.

A digital system is being developed for rescue management in coordination with the Prime Minister's technical team, and arrangements will be made to immediately mobilize rescue after receiving information as soon as an accident occurs.