KATHMANDU: The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has earned USD 25,000 and Rs 170,000 in revenue from the film shooting in national parks and reserves areas in the current fiscal year.

A total of 49 films— 25 foreign, one South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and 23 Nepali movies— have been shot in the national parks and wildlife reserves so far in the current fiscal year, said the Conservation.

In the last FY, altogether 36 movies, 35 foreign and one Nepali, were shot inside the area, informed the DNPWC Undersecretary Bishnu Prasad Shrestha.

A foreign film is charged USD 1,000 to shoot inside the area while a movie makers from the SAARC region has to pay Rs 25,000 for each movie. Likewise, a Nepali movie is charged Rs 5,000.

"Many prefer to shoot in the Sagarmatha National Park as it is famous tourist destination," said Bishnu Prasad Shrestha, said Shrestha.

Besides, Bardiya National Park, Chitwan National Park, Rara National Park, Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve and Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park have also been a popular choice for shooting.

Crew from various countries including Denmark, the United States of America, Australia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Singapore, Turkey, China, Sweden, Russia and Japan among others come here for shooting, the Department said.