Nepal’s Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality has announced that it will not require a trekking guide for those hiking in the region near Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, despite the Nepal Tourism Board’s (NTB) decision to make it mandatory for all trekking destinations from April. The municipality has instead called on hikers to take a guide with them to ensure their safety. The NTB has also decided to ban solo treks from April, requiring all trekkers to carry a Tourist Information Management System card and travel with a guide. There has been ongoing tension between the NTB and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality on this issue.