Anyone who wants to make a trek in Nepal is no longer allowed to do it alone. That is what the government of the country decided this week. Solo travelers who want to go on a walking tour will do so from now on accompanied by a guide (with a government license) or join a group.
The measure already applied to Mount Everest. Travelers have not been allowed to climb the highest mountain in the world on their own for at least five years. Since this week, that measure applies to all mountains in the country.
rescue missions
The trekking industry is an important source of income for Nepal. At the same time, the country has to spend quite a bit of money on search and rescue missions for travelers in trouble. Those costs are significant, Mani R. Lamichhane, director of the Nepalese tourism agency, told CNN.
“When you travel alone, there is no one to help you in an emergency. When tourists go missing, not even the government can track them down because of the remote routes they have taken. The infrastructure in the mountains is not sufficient.”
Unlicensed tour guides and companies are also a problem for the country. They do not pay taxes and thus steal jobs from the noses of Nepalese, Lamichhane tells CNN. “There have been some cases where the trekking association has asked us to stop unauthorized trekking activities.”
Varying reactions
In Nepal, the reaction to the new government decision is mixed. Ian Taylor, owner of a renowned guide company in Nepal, told CNN the new legislation makes sense. More and more tourists are venturing on more difficult climbs, he says. “In recent years, the situation in the region has changed dramatically. In the past you only saw experienced hikers and climbers, many without a guide. They were completely self-sufficient. Today, however, many more people travel through this region who are tourists, not trekkers. In nature they are not self-sufficient, so they need help from experienced guides.”
The decision has extra major consequences for the experienced hikers. The government of Nepal is not able to examine each individual visa application to see if he or she is competent enough to undertake a solo trek. “As a person who loves the mountains, I find it extremely disappointing that it had to come to this. We don’t want people’s access to the mountains to be restricted, but the situation in Nepal is unique and changes need to be made,” says Taylor.
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