The Khumbu region of Solukhumbu district is experiencing a major influx of tourists as the trekking season kicked off. Lukla Airport reported 200 flights on Tuesday alone, reflecting the increasing number of visitors heading to the Khumbu region and Mount Everest expeditions.

Umesh Panthi, chief of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) at Lukla, confirmed that a total of 298 flights arrived from Kathmandu and Manthali in Ramechhap. On Tuesday, 1,539 tourists reached Khumbu on 62 flights by aircraft and 139 flights by helicopter. Among them, 167 domestic and 667 international tourists flew in on planes, while 615 arrived via helicopter.

With the start of the tourist season, flight numbers are expected to rise, though many return flights remain nearly empty, as aircraft and helicopters leave Khumbu with few passengers.

Local tourism operators are thrilled by the surge in visitors. “We are busy offering hospitality to our guests,” said Lamakaji Sherpa, a hotelier in Namche, as the trekking season is now in full swing.

Hoteliers in Lukla, Jorsalle, Phakding, Namche, Khumjung, and Tengboche—key areas along the Khumbu trekking routes—are actively welcoming guests.

Manoj Kumar Mandal, from the Sagarmatha National Park’s Namche information office, mentioned that registering tourist arrivals at Jorsalle, the gateway to the Sagarmatha region, is now mandatory.

Sagarmatha National Park, established in 1976, spans 1,448 square kilometers and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The park also features the Gokyo Lake, which was added to the Ramsar list in 2007. It is home to a rich array of wildlife, including Himalayan blue sheep, wild goats, baboons, monal pheasants, horned larks, and Tibetan snowcocks. The park has a population of over 3,000 residents. -- RSS