Everest climbing season affected due to COVID-19 (coronavirus)

KATHMANDU: With the coronavirus outbreak showing no sign of abating, expedition operators in Nepal fear that the country was likely to suffer severe economic losses in the Everest climbing season that runs from March to May, it was reported. According to operators, many climbers from China, the epicenter of the outbreak, have already started canceling their expedition bookings after the disease has infected more than 80,000 people in nearly 50 countries, The Himalayan Times said in the report on Thursday. Pasang Sherpa, managing director at Pioneer Adventure Treks, informed that seven Chinese members from his company dropped their plans to scale the world’s highest peak from the Nepal side this season. “Now, we can hardly expect climbers from China, Iran, South Korea, Japan, and a few European countries, including Italy, among others,” Damber Parajuli, president of Expedition Operators Association Nepal, said.

Rishi Bhandari, managing director at Satori Adventure, said that the Everest climbing season would certainly face a tough challenge if the government fails to introduce an immediate action plan to contain the COVID-19 threat. “At least six Italian climbers who planned to scale Mt Everest from Tibet side have already canceled their booking from my company,” he informed. Sources said that China would not be opening its Tibet route in the spring season to allow Nepali operators for Mt Everest, Cho Oyu, and Sishapangma expeditions. (IANS)

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