CHITWAN: Despite significant drop in the influx of tourists after the massive earthquake of April 25, Chitwan National Park witnessed more number of tourists this year than the last fiscal year.

The park witnessed as many as 178,220 tourists in the fiscal year 2014-15 and 172,425 tourists in the fiscal year 2013-14.

According to Bishnu Thapaliya, Assistant Conservation Officer of the park, the revenue collection also increased in the last fiscal year. They collected a total of Rs 249,400,000 in the fiscal year 2013-14 and Rs 247,400,000 in fiscal year 2014-15.

The park, however, stated that they would not be able to reach the target they fixed this year. They assumed 190,000 tourist arrivals and a revenue collection of Rs 290 million in the fiscal year 2015-16.

Kamal Jung Kunwar, Chief Conservation Officer of the park stated that increase in the number of one-horned rhinos in the park has increased its importance in the global platform. This has contributed in increasing the number of tourists, they added.

Local tourists have to pay Rs 100 per head as entry fee, tourists from SAARC-member nations have to pay Rs 750 while other tourists have to pay Rs 1500.

The park further informed that they would invest half of the revenue collected in the Madhyawarti Area.