The Documentary Podcast Has Ghana's ‘Year of Return' been a success?
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The Independent
30 minutes ago
- The Independent
Nepal makes nearly 100 peaks free to climb as it pushes these top alternatives to overcrowded Everest
Nepal will waive climbing permit fees for 97 peaks in the country's remote provinces for the next two years, aiming to draw mountaineers to lesser-known scenic areas and boost tourism in underdeveloped regions. These mountains, ranging from 5,870 to 7,132m, are rarely climbed compared to popular peaks like Everest. The move comes as Nepal raises other climbing fees – Everest 's permit will jump from $11,000 to $15,000 in September this year. Officials hope the waiver will attract climbers, create jobs, and improve the local economy in some of the country's least developed areas. 'These are some of the most remote parts of Nepal,' Himal Gautam, director at the Department of Tourism, told The Kathmandu Post. 'Despite their breathtaking beauty, the number of tourists and mountaineers here is very low as access is so difficult. We hope the new provision will help.' Of the 97 peaks, 77 are located in Karnali province and the other 20 in Sudurpaschim. For decades, these regions, ringed by jagged peaks, carved by deep valleys, and dotted with isolated settlements, have stayed well off the tourist map, officials said. With scant roads, arduous trails, and almost no basic services, they rank among Nepal 's poorest and most marginalised, languishing near the bottom of the Human Development Index. In January this year, Nepal authorities announced that starting this September, climbers aiming for the summit of Everest in peak season will face a permit fee of $15,000 – a 36 per cent jump from the long-standing $11,000. Off-season expeditions will see similar hikes, authorities said at the time. Attempts between September and November will cost $7,500, while climbs from December to February will be priced at $3,750. Permit fees remain a vital income stream for Nepal, with mountaineering and trekking together accounting for over four per cent of the national economy. Meanwhile, employment opportunities are scarce near the peaks that have been made free in Nepal in Karnali and Sudurpaschim. Daily life for the residents of the remote villages is also hard, especially during winter. On top of this, climate crisis is adding to the challenges. Tourism entrepreneur and Nepal Tourism Board member Rajendra Lama warned that policy alone will not suffice for the betterment of the regions. 'We need coordinated efforts between the public, private, and community sectors, along with aggressive publicity,' he said. 'Only then will Karnali and Sudurpaschim find their place on the mountaineering map.' He added: 'Researchers could study how climate change has evolved here and how people are coping.' Earlier this year, it was reported that authorities are debating a new law that requires climbers eyeing the Everest summit to first conquer a Nepalese peak exceeding 7,000m. Officials note that this makes Sudurpaschim's Saipal (7,030m), Api (7,132m), and Api West (7,076m) – now exempt from permit fees – 'perfect training grounds'. In 2024, the Nepal government collected $5.92m in climbing fees, with Everest alone contributing $4.52m – more than three-quarters of the total. Nepal boasts 3,310 mountains rising above 5,500m, ranging from accessible trekking routes to demanding technical climbs. Of these, 461 are available for commercial expeditions, while 102 have yet to see a human summit. Fifteen are classified as trekking peaks under 6,000m. Towering at 8,849m, Mount Everest has in recent years faced mounting challenges – overcrowding at its slopes, growing environmental strain, and a string of deaths. In April last year, Nepal's Supreme Court stepped in, directing the government to cap the number of permits for Everest and other major peaks.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
What in the World Has Ghana's ‘Year of Return' been a success?
Back in 2019, Ghana's then president sent out an invitation to people with African heritage to come to Ghana. It was called the Year of Return - a campaign by Ghana's tourism board to mark 400 years since the first documented African slaves were taken to America. The campaign built on ideas of Pan-Africanism, a movement to promote unity and liberation on the continent. So five years on, how is it going? We hear from Lakeshia Ford, Rowena Habadah, and Mama Kexornyi, three women who made the decision to relocate and live in Ghana. They tell us about the challenges they faced and how life in Ghana altered their perspective on life. Plus, Kobby Mensah, chief executive of Ghana Tourism Development Company, discusses whether the Year of Return has benefited Ghana's tourism industry and led to increased investment in the country. We also question him about some of the tensions resulting from rising costs. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@ WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Benita Barden, Beryl Richter Editor: Verity Wilde
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Nepal makes 97 mountains free to climb as Everest fees rise
Nepal will make 97 of its Himalayan mountains free to climb for the next two years in a bid to boost tourism in some of its more remote areas. It comes as permit fees to summit Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, during peak season will go up to $15,000 (£11,170) from September - the first increase in nearly a tourism department said it hopes the initiative will highlight the country's "unexplored tourism products and destinations". Mountaineering generates a significant source of revenue for Nepal, which is home to the world's 10 tallest mountains. Climbing fees brought in $5.9m last year, with Everest accounting for more than three quarters of that. The peaks for which fees will be waived are located in Nepal's Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces, standing between 5,970m (19,590 ft) and 7,132m high. Both provinces, located in the far-western region of Nepal, are among the country's poorest and least developed provinces. "Despite their breathtaking beauty, the number of tourists and mountaineers here is very low as access is so difficult. We hope the new provision will help," said Himal Gautam, director of Nepal's Tourism Department."They can create jobs, generate income, and strengthen the local economy," he said, as reported by The Kathmandu it is unclear if authorities have plans to improve infrastructure and connectivity to these remote areas - and how well communities in these areas might cope with an influx of climbers, if the free-to-climb initiative does take off. Climbers have historically shown little interest in these 97 remote peaks - only 68 of them have ventured there in the last two years. In contrast, some 421 climbing permits were issued for Everest in 2024 alone. Everest, the world's highest peak at over 8,849m, has in recent years been plagued by overcrowding, environmental concerns and a series of fatal climbing April 2024, Nepal's Supreme Court ordered the government to limit the number of mountaineering permits issued for Everest and several other peaks, saying that the mountains' capacity "must be respected".In January this year, authorities announced a 36% mark-up in permit fees. For those attempting the summit outside the peak April to May season, it will now cost $7,500 to climb Everest during September to November and $3,750 during December to parliament is also debating a new law that will require anyone wanting to scale Everest to have first summited a mountain over 7,000m in the makes the peaks in Karnali and Sudurpaschim "ideal training grounds", according to The Kathmandu Post.
