yup, also an excuse to get more money into the economy.
despite the rising fatality rate on everest, nepal grants as many permits to climb the mountain as there are applicants , it's all money in the bank, you have to buy a permit for each and every route you want to climb, you have to specify the route for the permit.
i think this is seperate from a bond fee for places like everest , the bond is in regard to climbers cleaning up after themselves when they leave. although Ive no idea how hte govt tell who has left what mess given the sheer no of expeditions there now
http://www.trekkingagencynepal.com/climbing_permit.php
from the land of the long white clouds...