Himalayan Vultures swoop over Mount Everest as seen from Namche Bajar, Solukhumbu district, Nepal. Photo / Niranjan Shrestha, APNepal is expecting hundreds of foreigners to attempt to scale the highest Himalayan peaks despite the pandemic. The Department of Tourism in Kathmandu said Wednesday that more than 300 foreigners have expressed interest in climbing Mount Everest this spring. Everest's approach from Tibet was the first to be affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, with China halting climbing permits from 11 March. Everest alone is worth around $400 million in tourism revenue to Nepal.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 17, 2021 20:10 UTC