Pandemic Shuts Down Everest As Nepal Suspends All Permits
March 13, 2020
4:43 pm
Nepal on Friday barred climbers from all mountains — including Everest — over the coronavirus pandemic, in a major blow to its tourism industry.
The Himalayan country, which has so far confirmed one coronavirus case, earns 4.4 million dollars a year from climbing permits while the losses to expedition organisers will be even higher.
As well as suspending all climbing permits, Nepal stopped issuing tourist visas on arrival, Yogesh Bhattarai, Minister for Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation told AFP.
“The government has decided to suspend all spring expeditions and scrap permits for the time being. The decision can be reviewed …
