China has lifted a ban on foreigners entering Tibet, allowing the annual religious pilgrimage known as the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to open for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Nepali tour operators have expressed concerns over strict regulations and increased costs. Visa fees for Nepali guides and staff assisting pilgrims from India and other countries have risen from $30 to $120, while permit costs for Nepalese have increased from $100 to $300. Nepali firms operating tours to Kailash Manasarovar will also have to deposit $60,000 each to send Indian pilgrims to Tibet, which Nepalese central bank rules prohibit. Tour operators have warned that new rules, which require visa applicants to be present physically for biometrics, will result in a decrease in the flow of tourists.