Foreign tourists increased on Annapurna route

POKHARA, Oct 19:Foreign tourists have started to appear again on the world-famous Annapurna route. Tourists who could not go on the trekking route since the October 5th due to continuous rain during Dashain are now coming in full swing since a few days ago with the opening of the weather, said Bahadur Gurung, Tourism Assistant of Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Tourist Check Center, Dharapani.
       
During Dashain, more than 80 tourists come daily, but with the bad weather, this trekking route, which has become like zero, has again seen a rush of tourists. According to the center, 100 to 150 tourists have started coming daily.

Gurung said, 'More tourists come during Dashain Tihar than other times, but even though the tourists who started coming during Dashain could not come due to bad weather, they have increased again at this time.' He said that businesses around the trekking route are also flourishing.
       
Tourists visit this route only till next October/November. Tourism professionals expect more tourists. Pancha Bahadur Gurung, a tourism businessman from Ward No. 4 of Marsyangdi Rural Municipality, which is located on this trekking route, said, 'The business that was deserted during the summer season has now started to become as if there is no time to breathe due to the influx of tourists.'

He says that as the number of tourists started to increase, his hotel started filling up with foreign tourists, so time was passing in their service. Tulsi Gurung, a tourism businessman from Marsyangdi rural municipality-4 Stage, also said that tourists are crowded at the moment. "Tourists have started filling up the hotel, it used to be a good business, but due to the weather a few days ago, the business has been affected," he said.

He said that eight groups of 20/22 people who had booked to come to the hotel had canceled their booking. Tourists come for a limited period of time. But due to the bad weather for 15/20 days, they had to return, which affected their business and also reduced the number of tourists who were going to come, he said.

 Tourists come to see the mountains, mountain scenery, customs and natural beauty of the region. Tourists especially visit Thorangla, Larke and Kalapas while some tourists go to see Tilicho Lake which is the highest place in the world.
 
The tourist spot as well as Manang's khark and grassy fields are green and the sight of saffron and lice in bloom attracts tourists. Five districts namely Lamjung, Manang, Kaski, Mustang and Myagdi are connected to the Annapurna trail. The entrance of the Annapurna trekking route is located in Ward No. 7 of Lamjung Besisahar Municipality. Due to the tourists coming to the trekking route, even the hotel business at this entrance has become busy as the tourist traffic has started to intensify.