KATHMANDU, May 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 441 climbers have been granted permits to summit Mount Qomolangma from the Nepali side, surpassing last year's figures during the spring climbing season, the Department of Tourism announced on Saturday.
Last year, 421 climbers were allowed to ascend the 8,848.86-meter-high peak, which straddles Nepal and China, during the spring season, which runs through May. In 2023, a record 478 permits were issued, marking the highest number in recent years.
As of Friday, 1,092 climbers from 73 countries and regions have been permitted to climb 26 peaks in Nepal during this spring season, the department said.
"We're still expecting a few more applications. So the number of permits is likely to increase further," Himal Gautam, director at the department, told Xinhua.
Nepal has earned 5.52 million U.S. dollars in royalties from issuing these permits, with 4.83 million coming from Mount Qomolangma alone. ■