POKHARA: Very few foreign tourists have been enjoying the Annapurna trekking circuit and the number of trekkers on other trails has also declined after the massive earthquake of April 25 in the country.

Lalita Pun, operator of Moonlight Hotel at Ghorepani of Myagdi said that a few tourists visit the Punhill region to enjoy the breath-taking view of Himalayas and the sunrise.

Ghorepani and Punhill region are located in the Annapurna trekking circuit.

Though a large number of foreign tourists lost their lives in a massive avalanche at Thorangla Pass area on the border of Manang and Mustang along the Annapurna trekking route last year, trekkers along the route had increased significantly within a few months after the incident. “If we can spread the message that the trekking route is safe despite the damage at other tourist destinations, the tourism sector can revive,” said Pun.

“We are confident that the number of tourists will increase soon as their arrival has continued though the numbers are down compared to before,” said Devi Prasad Acharya, operator of Hotel Evergreen at Jhinu, Kaski.

A Malaysian team trekked on the trail for the second time after the devastating quake, according to Acharya.

The trekking route to Annapurna Base Camp is also known as Sanctuary Trek.

Sam Bahadur Gurung, Secretary of Sanctuary Tourism Entrepreneurs, said they were optimistic that trekkers on the trail would increase as the route had not been affected in the disaster.

Similarly, Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Western Regional Association Pokhara First Vice-chairman Deepak Raj Adhikari expressed confidence that foreign trekkers in the route would increase.

Adhikari further said he had trekked to the Annapurna Base Camp region successfully with a Malaysian team just a few days back. “Though Dennis Lee Thian Poh, a Malaysian national has gone missing for the past two months, the recent trek by the Malaysian team was adorable,” he said.

Lal Prasad Gurung, Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) headquarters Pokhara chief, said that around 40 foreign nationals had trekked for a week recently.

Annapurna Circuit Trekking begins from Lamjung headquarters Beshishahar and continues through Manang, Mustang, Myagdi and ends at Nayapul of Kaski.

However, Century Trek begins from Kaski’s Phedi, Kande or Nayapul and extends to Annapurna Base camp.

A total of 130,000 foreign tourists had done the Annapurna route in 2014. The region covers as many as 57 VDCs of five districts with an area 7,629 square km.