Nepal’s tourism industry is facing one of its most serious controversies in years after police uncovered a $20 million insurance fraud scheme linked to Mount Everest trekking routes. Authorities say a network of guides, trekking agencies, helicopter operators and medical personnel worked together to exploit international travellers by deliberately inducing illness and orchestrating unnecessary emergency evacuations. The case, which has led to charges against 32 individuals, has raised urgent questions about oversight, ethics, and safety in one of the world’s most iconic adventure destinations, where thousands of trekkers arrive each year seeking a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
