Local Officials Weigh Impacts on Environment, Economy, and Residents

Growing concerns over the environment, local businesses, and the community have led Sagarmatha National Park officials to consider placing a ban on commercial helicopter flights. The park, home to the famous Mount Everest, draws in upwards of 100,000 visitors per year.

Several helicopter companies run frequent aerial tours over the region, which has been seen as a great way to explore the mountains without having to get your hands dirty. While this is beneficial from a tourism standpoint, helicopter tours are controversial due to the potential for environmental harm, noise pollution, and local business opportunities.

“National parks are essential for Nepal’s tourism revenue, and conservation should be a primary concern,” stated Nima Nuru Sherpa, President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). “However, the park should not impose restrictions without careful consideration, taking into account the significant investments made by helicopter operators in promoting Nepal’s high-end tourism.”

Park authorities, along with the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, Buffer Zone Management Committee, and other stakeholders, recently decided to place a ban on commercial helicopter flights and landings in Khumbu Valley beginning January 1, 2025. This would only allow certain rescue operations in the Mount Everest area.

However, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) was quick to step in and dispute the decision. The agency claimed that the groups involved in enforcing the ban do not have proper legal authority to do so.

“The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029 BS and the Himalayan National Park Regulations, 2036 BS, among other laws, state that the said body does not have the authority to restrict airspace above any national parks or wildlife reservations,” the CAAN stated.

The decision is now in the hands of the CAAN, and it won’t be an easy choice to make. Locals are firmly advocating for the ban as a way to preserve the park’s natural beauty and serenity. However, removing commercial flights altogether would block a plentiful source of revenue and tourism.

FMI: www.snp.gov.np