Key Takeaways:

• Trails reopened after snow was cleared from Thorong La Pass (5,416m)
• Tourist arrivals had dropped to one or two per day between Oct 8–11
• Peak season last year: 400–500 daily

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 12 Tourist arrivals on the Annapurna Circuit are picking up after floods, landslides and heavy snowfall disrupted travel, with around 150 to 200 visitors now arriving daily at the tourist check and information centre in Dharapani. Bhupendra Gurung, who oversees the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) centre, said clearing snow from the trail to Thorong La Pass, at an altitude of 5,416 metres, had made it easier for trekkers to travel from Manang towards Mustang. The number of visitors had fallen sharply following heavy rain and snowfall from September 24 to 27, which blocked roads and trekking routes. Adverse weather between October 8 and 11 further reduced arrivals to just one or two tourists a day, Gurung said. The centre recorded 1,447 tourists between October 4 and 11, including 887 men and 560 women. The largest groups were from Israel, with 141 visitors, followed by Australia (121), Germany (109), Spain (103) and Britain (97). During the peak season last year, the route received 400 to 500 tourists daily. This year's arrivals have been affected by recent floods and snowfall, although Gurung expressed optimism that visitor numbers would increase as roads and trails improve. The Annapurna Circuit, which runs from Besisahar in Lamjung through Manang and across Thorong La Pass towards Mustang, attracts domestic and international visitors for its mountain scenery, natural landscapes and local culture. Tourism entrepreneurs also expect the recovery in visitor numbers to benefit communities along the route. Pancha Bahadur Gurung, a tourism entrepreneur from Jagat in Masryangdi Rural Municipality-4, said rising arrivals could help boost the local economy. (With inputs from RSS)