Kathmandu, Apr 6 (PTI) Nepal on Monday said it has formed a high-level committee to ensure the strict implementation of existing procedures in the wake of attempts by some travel operators to conduct fraudulent helicopter rescue operations in the Everest region to claim insurance amounts.
The committee is led by the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
“With tighter regulation, digital verification systems, and firm action against offenders, Nepal is confident of renewing international trust and reinforcing its reputation as a safe, responsible, and world-class trekking destination,” the Tourism Ministry said in a statement.
It said the ministry has taken serious note of recent national and international media reports, as well as investigations, alleging irregularities in helicopter rescue operations in Nepal’s trekking and mountain tourism sector.
According to the ministry, the reports of fake rescue operations have raised concerns regarding instances of exaggerated altitude sickness symptoms, unnecessary helicopter evacuations, and inflated insurance claims involving possible coordination among a limited number of operators.
The Nepal government recognises the urgency and sensitivity of these concerns and is undertaking immediate and decisive measures to address them, it said.
The ministry clarified that certain allegations reported in the media, such as claims of deliberate harm to trekkers, including the feeding of contaminated food, have not been substantiated by investigations conducted by the Central Investigation Bureau.
It urged media outlets and stakeholders to verify such claims with officials to avoid the spread of misinformation that may unjustly harm Nepal’s tourism image.
“While these incidents are not representative of the industry as a whole, the Government acknowledges existing gaps in monitoring and enforcement, particularly in remote trekking regions, and is addressing them with the highest priority,” it said.
The ministry said it is implementing a set of immediate measures to ensure transparency, accountability, and system integrity.
“A zero-tolerance policy is being applied through strict investigation, blacklisting, and public disclosure of individuals and agencies found involved in fraudulent practices,” it said.
The government is open to engage directly with international insurance providers to establish verification channels and restore confidence, while a joint monitoring task force comprising MoCTCA, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Nepal Police, Nepal Tourism Board and aviation stakeholders has been mobilised to strengthen oversight and conduct regular audits and for authentic and timely communication, it added.
The government is also advancing medium- and long-term structural reforms aimed at strengthening the overall governance of the sector.
“These include the development of a technology-enabled Rescue Management System integrating trekker registration, rescue requests, and insurance validation; strengthening licensing requirements for guides and agencies with mandatory ethical compliance; standardising medical protocols for altitude sickness diagnosis; enhancing local-level governance in trekking regions; and promoting ethical tourism certification standards.
“The Government considers this a serious but manageable issue, reflecting isolated cases of malpractice rather than systemic failure,” the statement added.
Last week, Nepal’s mountaineering community expressed serious concern over a USD 20 million insurance scam.
The CIB has charged 32 people over the fake insurance scam. These people were later released on bail. However, the magnanimity of the fraud hangs over the country as the spring climbing season starts.
Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak at 8,848.86 metres, and scores of other Himalayan peaks continue to be a big draw for mountaineers and adventure lovers from the world over, year after year, since its first ascent in 1953.
Mountaineering, especially for Mt Everest, royalty fees and a large mountain community dependent on mountaineering and related tourism in the region, is a good revenue stream for the Himalayan nation.
In January, police arrested six officials of tour operators and mountain rescue agencies for their involvement in the fake rescue scam that defrauded international insurance companies of nearly USD 20 million.
In some cases, trekkers with minor altitude-related discomfort were pressured into helicopter evacuations. In others, multiple patients were transported in a single flight but billed separately to different insurance companies at full cost.
According to the investigators, the accused staged medical emergencies to justify costly helicopter evacuations, which were then falsely claimed from international travel insurance providers. PTI SBP ZH ZH
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