Kathmandu, Aug. 12 -- Nepal will allow climbers to scale 97 Himalayan peaks free of charge for the next two years in an effort to draw visitors to its lesser-known mountain regions, an officials said.
It comes as permit fees to summit Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, during peak season will go up to $15,000 (£11,170) from September - the first increase in nearly a decade.
Nepal's tourism department said it hopes the initiative will highlight the country's "unexplored tourism products and destinations".
Mountaineering generates a significant source of revenue for Nepal, which is home to the world's 10 tallest mountains. Climbing fees brought in $5.9m last year, with Everest accounting for more than three quarters of that.
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