Sue Badyari, CEO of World Expeditions and Travel Weekly Women of the Year, has slammed guides accused of poisoning travellers in a bid to profit from insurance payouts, warning the allegations could damage trust across the industry.
Nepali authorities have charged 32 people and arrested at least 11 over an alleged US$20 million (around AU$29m) insurance fraud scheme linked to Mount Everest rescues. Investigators claim some guides deliberately made climbers ill to trigger costly helicopter evacuations, using forged medical and flight documents to inflate payouts.
The case, affecting nearly 4,800 climbers between 2022 and 2025, has raised serious concerns about safety, oversight and Nepal’s global reputation as a trekking destination.
Badyari said the allegations were “disappointing and concerning”.
“It undermines trust in a sector that relies heavily on responsible practice, and ultimately has broader implications for both operators and travellers.”
She said risk management remains a core priority for World Expeditions, particularly in remote environments like Nepal, where the company has been operating since 1975.
“At World Expeditions, we take a very structured and responsible approach to risk management in remote environments including Nepal. For example, we operate our own camps on key treks, which allows us to maintain close oversight of hygiene standards, food preparation and overall client wellbeing.”
“This reduces the likelihood of preventable illness and helps ensure that issues are managed early and appropriately.”
Badyari stressed that helicopter evacuations should only be used when medically necessary.
“We are also very deliberate when it comes to emergency response. Helicopter evacuations are only initiated when genuinely required, based on medical need and in consultation with experienced local teams and guides. These decisions are not taken lightly.”
She added that any misconduct in this area has wider consequences for the industry.
“Any form of unscrupulous conduct in this area is unacceptable. Beyond the immediate ethical concerns, it can contribute to increased evacuation and insurance costs across the board.
“Ultimately, that impacts travellers who genuinely require emergency assistance, as well as responsible operators working to maintain high standards.”
She said ensuring that travellers were confident in the destination was dependendent on consistent industry-wide standards.
“Maintaining traveller confidence depends on consistent, transparent and ethical practices across the industry, and we believe there is an ongoing need for accountability and appropriate utilisation in this space where 99.9 per cent of operators are conducting business with the highest levels of integrity.”
