Tourist arrivals in the Annapurna Conservation Area, a renowned trekking destination for its beautiful landscape and rich cultural heritage, have seen a significant increase in recent months. Over the past three months, a total of 34,651 foreign tourists entered the region.

According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), the number of tourists spiked in September with 23,088 visitors, compared to 5,249 in July. In August, 6,314 foreign tourists visited the area. Dr. Rabin Kadaria, head of the ACAP, mentioned that September and October are peak months for tourist arrivals in the region.

In September alone, 11,682 tourists from South Asian countries visited the Annapurna region, along with 11,406 visitors from other countries. August saw 3,383 tourists from the SAARC region and 2,931 from other parts of the world. Similarly, in July, 3,350 tourists from the SAARC region and 1,893 from other countries visited the region.

Popular trekking destinations within the Annapurna Conservation Area include Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, Ghandruk, Sikles, Khumaidanda, Tilicho Lake in Manang, Thorang La Pass, Upper Mustang, Muktinath, and Ghorepani in Myagdi.

The region also attracts a large number of domestic tourists. In the last fiscal year, 222,180 foreign tourists visited the Annapurna Conservation Area, with 117,845 from Asian countries and around 100,000 from other parts of the world. -- RSS