December 24, 2001 KATHMANDU: Coinciding with the declaration of the year 2002 as International Year of the Mountain, government Monday opened 103 more Nepal Himalaya peaks to climbers, a Tourism Ministry announcement said. ”Security perceptions have changed after the end of the cold war. China has also opened border peaks in Tibet to foreigners,” Under Secretary Ganesh Karki of the Mountaineering Section of the Ministry said.
India and Pakistan have also opened up new peaks to attract adventure tourists. The opening of the peaks also coincides with the declaration of 2002 as Destination Nepal Year. The new move will attract climbers, bring in additional revenue for the government and provide employment opportunities to porters and sherpa guides.
All peaks are below 8000 metres and most have not been climbed. Of the 160 peaks previously open climbers, Nepal Mountaineering Association managed 18 peaks. The Ministry gave expeditions permits to climb the remaining peaks, including Mount Everest, against payment of a royalty fee.
Nine new peaks were opened to climbers in spring this year while 18 were opened in 1998 coinciding with the Visit Nepal Year.