As of April 2023, Nepal has banned independent trekking from its protected mountain regions and national parks, meaning all foreign trekkers, whether alone or in a group, must be accompanied by licensed guides. The Nepal Tourism Board hopes this move will improve the safety of visitors and encourage proper regulation of the trekking industry. To source their guides, trekkers will need to go through trekking agencies registered with the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN). Visitors will also need a Trekkers’ Information Management System card, which will work like a permit, for the price of 2,000 Nepalese rupees for most international visitors. Nepal has eight of the world’s tallest mountains and is known for its beautiful rural trekking regions, with tourism and especially trekking forming Nepal’s biggest revenue earner. However, visitors getting lost on solo treks leads to search and rescue missions that account for a larger monetary share.