Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 16:

King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) has made some changes regarding entry fee being paid by foreign nationals to enter Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) and Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MACP), effective from May 15.

The new provision has made it mandatory for individual trekker to have an entrance fee receipt. This revokes previous provision of issuing entrance fee receipt in the name of a company or a group of trekkers. According to the new system, the name of an individual trekker will be written on the receipt and an agency name will be mentioned in brackets.

Till now, a group of trekkers were given only one receipt. But with the implementation of the new provision, ACAP will provide two receipts. A trekker has to show one receipt at the check post, furnishing all details required for registration before lea-ving for trekking. It is mandatory for a trekker to keep another receipt thro-ughout trekking period.

Annapurna region is the second most popular trekking destination in Nepal, following Khumbu (Everest) region, which receives tens of thousands of tourists every year. Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Sanctuary, Muktinath and Dhaulagiri trekking are among the famous routes in the region. KMTNC cha-rges Rs 2,000 per head for the third country tourists while trekking in ACAP is Rs 100 for SAARC nationals. The entry fee in MCAP trekking area is $90 per person per week during September-November and $75 during December-August season.