(TAN): The Covid-19 pandemic has left Mount Everest empty, hurting the tourism industry of Nepal like never before, reported The Times of India.
Home to the world’s highest mountain, a big part of Nepal’s economy is based on the tourism industry, attracting mountaineers from across the globe. But, the pandemic has left Mount Everest among the worst hit attractions this year.
Nepal earned a revenue of more than USD 2 billion out of tourism as well as generated millions of employment in the year 2019, according to official data. In a stark contrast to that, a number of sherpas and guides are out of work now.
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As per immigration officials, this season, less than 150 climbers arrived in the region leaving the trails to Everest Base Camp all empty.
In recent days, owing to a fresh wave of the virus, all the tourism in the country has stopped completely. Several Nepalis fear that if the situation continues, the country will be pushed back several years in terms of development and economic growth. The virus cases are rising rapidly, and according to reports, Nepal does not have adequate intensive care facilities for its population of over 30 million.
