Kathmandu, December 2 The Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) is preparing to introduce new trekking routes in January next year. The umbrella organisation of trekking agencies in the country is in the final phase of introducing new routes. As per TAAN, they are conducting studies of five new trekking routes outside Kathmandu valley. The TAAN secretariat informed that it is planning to introduce new trekking routes with an aim to make the Visit Neal Year (VNY) 2020 campaign successful. The new routes will include places close to Annapurna region that have been neglected despite having the potential of good trekking routes for adventure-seeking tourists. Along with the launch of new trekking routes, members of TAAN will also provide special discount packages on the new routes during VNY 2020. Trekking agencies will provide 20 per cent to 30 per cent discount on trekking packages for trekkers booking trekking packages to new destinations. Meanwhile, TAAN members will also provide 15 per cent discount to both foreign and domestic tourists on regular trekking packages. As per TAAN secretariat, around 40 per cent of tourists travelling to Nepal visit the country for trekking and a majority of them are from China and Japan. Last year, TAAN had issued trekking permits to around 76,700 group trekkers, while Nepal Tourism Board had issued trekking permits to a total of 20,685 individual trekkers. TAAN has also set a target to encourage 70 per cent of total tourists travelling to Nepal to go trekking in 2020. Meanwhile, TAAN is preparing to organise adventure travel mart. As per TAAN, several domestic and international trekking agencies, including foreign and local buyers and sellers, will be participating in the event. The date for the event will be decided soon.