Group 1 - Nepal plans to waive climbing permit fees for 97 peaks over the next two years to encourage foreign tourists to explore lesser-known mountains instead of focusing on Mount Everest [2] - The 97 peaks, ranging from 5,970 meters to 7,132 meters, are located in the remote western provinces of Nepal, which have historically attracted limited visitors due to accessibility issues [2] - Climbing tourism is a significant source of revenue for Nepal, with last year's climbing permit fee income reported at $5.9 million, over 70% of which came from permits for climbing Everest [2] Group 2 - The number of climbers for the 97 peaks has been low, with only 68 climbers in the past two years, while Everest remains highly popular, with 421 climbers permitted for the spring 2024 season and 478 in spring 2023, the highest in recent years [2] - The Nepalese government previously announced the allowance for climbing 491 peaks, but tourists primarily favor 25 peaks, including Everest, which drives tourism mainly in central and northeastern Nepal [2] - Starting September 1, the government will increase the climbing permit fees for Everest, raising the fees for foreign climbers to $15,000 in spring and $7,500 in autumn [3]