Annapurna Conservation Area Sees Record Foreign Tourist Influx

Kaski. In the last fiscal year, tourists from 169 countries visited various destinations within the Annapurna Conservation Area. During that period, five lakh eight thousand four hundred and seventy-six foreign tourists entered this area.

Among them, three lakh eighty-four thousand one hundred and forty-five were from South Asian countries and one lakh twenty-four thousand three hundred and thirty-one were from other countries. The highest number of tourists, three lakh seventy-five thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, were Indian. The second highest were 12,539 Chinese, and the third highest were 9,884 American tourists who visited this area.

Similarly, 9,859 tourists from the UK, 7,939 from France, 7,848 from Malaysia, 7,634 from Germany, 7,448 from Bangladesh, 7,095 from Australia, and 6,398 from Israel entered this area.

Dr. Rabin Kadaria, Chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, stated that the number of foreign tourists visiting last fiscal year was double compared to the fiscal year 2081-82. According to him, 278,113 people visited the Annapurna region in the fiscal year 2081-82. He mentioned that a new record was set in tourist arrivals last fiscal year.

Chief Dr. Kadaria said that the number of tourists from India and other South Asian countries increased by nearly 300 percent in the last month of Jestha. This is the first time that Indian tourists have come in such a large number. The increase in Indian tourists is due to the promotion of destinations like Pokhara and Muktinath in India, ease of transportation, and publicity through social media.

During that season, Indian tourists come to Pokhara and surrounding destinations to escape the heat. The 'occupancy' of hotels in the tourist capital Pokhara reached up to 90 percent in the months of Baishakh-Jestha. About 40 percent of Indian tourists visiting Pokhara go to Muktinath, according to Chief Dr. Kadaria. The Annapurna region is considered a world-famous destination for trekking tourism.

Tourists travel via the Annapurna Circuit Trek to destinations such as Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, Ghandruk, Tilicho Lake in Manang, Thorong La Pass, Upper Mustang, Muktinath area, and Ghorepani in Myagdi.

The Annapurna Conservation Area Project only keeps records of foreign tourists visiting these destinations. Spread over 7,600 square kilometers, the Annapurna Conservation Area is famous for its natural beauty, biodiversity, Himalayan lifestyle, and culture.

The Annapurna Conservation Area includes 87 wards in 15 local levels of Kaski, Lamjung, Manang, Myagdi, and Mustang. This region is considered excellent for visiting due to its attractive destinations, tourism-friendly infrastructure, hospitality, and services.