Nepal is [making / made] 97 of its mountains free to climb for the [next / after] two years. The government wants [for / to] encourage tourists to go trekking in two provinces in the far [western / west] of Nepal. They are among the country's poorest and least-developed [area / areas] . A tourism official said the peaks that will have [no / not] climbing fees are between 5,970 metres and 7,132 metres high. The director of Nepal's Tourism Department told The Kathmandu Post about the new plan. He said: "[Spite / Despite] their breathtaking beauty, the number of tourists and mountaineers here [are / is] very low as access is so [difficult / difficulty] ." He hoped the plan would "create jobs, generate income, and [strength / strengthen] the local economy".
Nepal's government also announced a [chance / change] in the fee it charges to [clamber / climb] Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain. From the 1st of September, the cost of climbing Everest will [raise / rise] from $11,000 to $15,000. This is the first increase [in / at] nearly ten years. Other popular [peaks / perks] will also have higher fees. An additional [rule / rules] to climb Everest was introduced earlier this year. Trekkers now need to [proof / prove] they have scaled a peak in Nepal that is over 7,000 metres high. The government hopes this will [discourage / encourage] more people to attempt some of the 97 free mountains. The tourism director said the more [remotely / remote] mountains are "ideal training grounds" to reach the top [of / by] Everest.
