KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 2
As the current weather is considered favorable for visiting the mountainous Manang district, the number of tourists has begun to increase, according to the Area Office of the Annapurna Area Conservation (ACAP).
In the past six months of this year, a total of 9,752 foreign tourists have visited the area. The incoming tourists explored both the Annapurna trail and the Larke pass in Narpabhumi, stated ACAP Chief Dhak Bahadur Bhujel.
Out of these visitors, 928 were domestic and foreign tourists who explored the Annapurna trail, and 528 tourists ventured to the Larke pass. Tourists typically reach their destinations through Chungnurmi in Gorkha district.
By mid-October, 4,357 foreign tourists had entered the area. In terms of monthly numbers, 3,266 tourists visited the area in the Nepali month of Baisakh, 661 in Jestha, 259 in Asar, 296 in Shrawan, and 913 in Bhadra.
Last year, a total of 1,072 tourists had visited the area from the Nepali month of Shrawan to Mangsir. This year's influx of tourists has seen a significant increase compared to last year, according to Bhujel. He remarked, "The main source of income here is the tourism sector. Without the arrival of tourists, revenue collection is low. The tourism sector has been vital for the local people's livelihoods. The local community is engaged in both agriculture and the hotel and tourism business."
The local people warmly welcome visiting tourists with locally made food items instead of imported goods, as mentioned by Binod Gurung, President of the Tourism Entrepreneur Association. "This season has witnessed a notable increase in the arrival of tourists, which has uplifted local businesses. The flow of tourists has increased significantly."
Gurung added that the number of tourists, both domestic and foreign, has increased substantially. "Foreign tourists have already booked hotel rooms, ensuring their accommodation. On-arrival hotel booking often creates problems. I would like to urge prospective tourists to check the availability of hotel rooms as they are typically pre-booked online."
