Expedition Operators Association of Nepal

The Expedition Operators Association of Nepal (EOAN) is an organization representing companies that facilitate mountaineering and trekking expeditions within Nepal. As a key stakeholder in the country's lucrative tourism sector, the EOAN plays a crucial role in managing and promoting adventure tourism, particularly high-altitude climbing. The association has recently gained prominence due to record-breaking numbers of climbers summiting Mount Everest from the Nepali side. Despite concerns about overcrowding and potential safety risks, the EOAN, through its secretary general Rishi Bhandari, has reported a surge in successful ascents, with 274 climbers reaching the summit in a single day this season. This highlights the EOAN's direct involvement in managing the logistics and operations of these major expeditions, as well as its position in addressing challenges like route blockages caused by natural obstacles, such as a large ice serac that delayed route openings this year. The EOAN's activities are therefore highly relevant to the current climbing season and the ongoing discourse surrounding the safety and sustainability of climbing Nepal's iconic peaks.