A total of 30,732 foreign tourists visited the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), including the Annapurna Circuit, during the month of Asoj (mid-September to mid-October).
Among the visitors, nearly 12,000 tourists were from South Asian countries, while over 18,700 were from other nations.
Dr. Rabin Kadariya, Chief of ACAP, noted that the number of visitors has been rising since the second week of September. Dr. Kadariya further mentioned that tourist numbers are expected to increase in the coming two months, as this is the peak season for visits to the Annapurna Circuit. He also reported a rise in number of domestic tourists during this period.
Key attractions for tourists in the Annapurna region include Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Peak, Ghandruk, Sikles, Khumai Danda, Tilicho Lake, Thorang La Pass, Upper Mustang, Muktinath, and Ghodepani in Myagdi.
Annapurna Base Camp Sees Influx of Domestic Tourists
Likewise, the arrival of domestic tourists has surged at Annapurna I Base Camp, located in Narchang of Annapurna Rural Municipality-4. Over 800 domestic tourists visited the area within five days following the Tika celebration of the Bada Dashain festival, according to Tej Bahadur Gurung, a campaigner for the Maurice Herzog trekking route.
Annapurna Base Camp can be reached via a two-day trek from Humkhola in Narchang. Sushant Poudel, a domestic tourist, shared that the base camp and the trekking route were crowded with holidaying trekkers following the festival.
In previous years, the area was often deserted, but domestic tourist numbers have significantly increased due to the construction of various infrastructures. These developments include trekking trails and attractions such as Panchkunda Lake, Futphute Lake, caves, and waterfalls along the route.
Data shows that the number of tourists visiting Annapurna Base Camp has increased sixfold this year compared to last year. Local hoteliers are enthusiastic about the rising number of visitors, which includes tourists from India, China, Taiwan, and Italy.
However, some tourists have raised concerns over inadequate garbage management and sanitation in the area. -- RSS