KATHMANDU, May 10 (Xinhua) -- By Friday, Nepal's Department of Tourism had issued climbing permits to 414 climbers planning to ascend Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest peak, from the Nepali side during this year's spring climbing season.
The mountaineers hail from 62 different countries and regions, with 75 of them being women, according to Nepal's Department of Tourism.
"As climbing to the peak will start next week with an expedition team to fix the ropes in a few days, I don't see there will be a significant increase in permit seekers now," Rakesh Gurung, director of the department, told Xinhua.
The government has raised 4.45 million U.S. dollars in royalty fees by issuing the permits, the department said.
Last year, 478 climbers were permitted to climb the 8,848.86-meter-high Mount Qomolangma, which is situated on the border between Nepal and China. ■
