The latest climbing season on Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, is set to become one of the deadliest ever, raising questions about whether Nepal is issuing too many permits to maximise tourist revenue.
Over the past few weeks, 11 foreign mountaineers from countries including Australia, China and Malaysia died trying to summit Everest after the Nepali government issued a record 478 permits. Five local Sherpa climbing guides have also perished.
