The Sagarmatha region saw the arrival of 694 tourists in a single day on Monday, according to the Office of Sagarmatha National Park in Namche. Of these, 608 were foreign nationals, while 86 were domestic visitors.
Ranger Bibek Shrestha said hotels in the Khumbu region reported high occupancy due to the growing number of visitors. Climber Temba Chhiri Sherpa noted that tourist arrivals have surged with the onset of the spring season, making it difficult to find quality accommodation.
Amrit Magar, In-Charge of Tara Air at Lukla, said that flight frequency to Lukla has increased with the improvement in weather. “We’ve added more flights so that more tourists can visit the district that’s home to the world’s highest peak,” he said, adding that hotel reservations have risen sharply.
Karma Sherpa, Senior Vice-Chairman of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal, said tourism entrepreneurs are encouraged by the growing influx of visitors. “The region has come alive again after the severe downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.
Sherpa said the growing number of tourists is also creating more job opportunities for locals. Hotels in Lukla and Namche are currently packed.
Most tourists visiting the Sagarmatha National Park contribute to revenue collection. According to the Park Office, SAARC nationals are charged an entry fee of Rs 1,500, other foreigners pay Rs 3,000, and Nepali citizens pay Rs 100.
