‘It’d be crazy to go to Nepal without travel insurance, let alone climb Mount Everest without it,” said the individual with an understanding of the costs associated with a potential injury during such a challenge.
However, not everyone is as informed of the financial (or physical) risks that come with climbing the world’s tallest summit, which is why Nepal’s leaders may soon demand that climbers obtain travel insurance.
The insurance rule is one of a number of new requirements recommended to the country’s government by a specially-created Everest committee after the 8,848m high mountain experienced its deadliest season.
Image: Ananya Bilimale/Unsplash
Eleven people died while attempting to scale Mount Everest this year, and although that’s a small portion of the record-breaking 381 people who climbed, it’s the greatest number of deaths, Fox News reported.
In a bid to reduce the number of passings and injuries (and hopefully manage overtourism issues), the report recommended that climbers be required to have completed other peaks of at least 21,320ft, undergo training and obtain a certificate of good health. They’ll also need to have travel insurance to cover any costs of injury.
Image: Kalle Kortelainen/Unsplash
The report also suggested that all climbers require a trained Nepali guide.
Although still early days, a Senior Official from Nepal’s Tourism Ministry told media that the recommendations would likely be implemented.
“The government will now make the required changes in laws and regulations guiding mountain climbing.”
Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, Nepal Tourism Ministry Senior Official