Nepal publishes list of 600 missing tourists, three Spaniards included

Nepal's government has published a list of more than 600 tourists classified as "missing or out of contact." Three of them are Spanish, according to Hosteltur. Before you panic: many are backpackers who simply didn't update their status after leaving the trekking area. But the sheer number is a red flag.

In Nepal, mountaineering permits require registration, but there's no check-out system. If you don't notify when you return, you end up on this list. The three Spaniards are in that group, with no signs of accidents so far.

Here's my take: we travel rough and when something goes wrong, nobody knows where to look. Agencies selling Himalaya treks should include an active traveler tracking service. A simple WhatsApp check-in or a satellite SOS button could save a lot of pain. A tourist who doesn't answer is not just a line on a list, it's a family waiting. And in 2023, that's preventable.