Solukhumbu, April 6 

The number of tourists visiting Khumbu area, the gateway to the world’s highest peak Mt Everest, crossed 3,000 between February 13 to March 14 this year.

A total of 3,244 people from various countries had already visited Khumbu during the period. The highest number of tourists visiting the area are from the United States of America.

Chief of Sagarmatha National Park Mishra Kaji Tamang said that about 378 Americans, 354 Britons, 307 Germans and 270 Chinese tourists visited Khumbu during the period.

Seventy nine tourists came from SAARC member countries, excluding Nepal, while one each came from Bangladesh, Croatia, Cambodia and Lithuania.

The number of foreign tourists visiting Khumbu last year came to around 2,717, which indicates the number is definitely increasing.

Sagarmatha National Park collected Rs 8.58 million in fees from tourists visiting the park.

The Park charges an entry fee of Rs 3,390 per person from foreign nationals and Rs 1,695 from the SAARC member countries.