Solo hiking will be banned in Nepal’s national parks in an effort to reduce risks for adventure seekers, according to the Nepal Tourism Board. The new rules, which apply to international tourists of all experience levels on treks in national parks, expands on a 2017 mandate that banned solo climbing on the country’s mountains. Last year, there were about 22,000 solo trekkers in Nepal, with climbers primarily from the US, Britain, China, Germany, India and Japan. Some hikers have criticized the new rules, however, travel companies and tour organizations have welcomed the move, hoping it will increase the number of jobs for guides and other workers in the tourism industry.