Annapurna region attracts more than 2 lakh tourists in a year

POKHARA, July 20:In the fiscal year 2080/81, 222,180 foreign tourists visited the famous Annapurna region for trekking. There are 117,845 Asian tourists and 14,256 from other countries.

According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), 35,265 tourists visited the area in Chaitra, with the lowest number being 5,401 in Shrawan.

Dr. Rabin Kadariya, the ACAP's director, stated that about 50,000 more tourists came in the year 2080/081BS than in the year 2079/080 BS. In that year, 172,510 tourists visited the Annapurna region, including 89,777 from South Asia and 82,733 from other nations.

"Tourism in this region, which was stagnant during the Covid pandemic, has returned to its old rhythm," said the ACAP's director, Dr. Kadariya. "In the main tourist season, there is an influx of tourists for trekking here." According to him, the seasons of Ashoj-Kartik and Chaitra-Baisakha are ideal for trekking tourism in Nepal.

ACAP  exclusively stores data on foreign tourists that walk the Annapurna circuit trek. The project's director, Dr. Kadariya, stated that the number of domestic tourists traveling by road to Mustang, Manang, and other destinations is unknown.

He states that the Annapurna Circuit Trek is becoming popular among tourists from all around the world. According to him, in 2023, 191,558 tourist from 173 countries visited the Annapurna region.

Every year, millions of domestic and foreign tourists visit the Annapurna base camp, Mardi Himal in Kaski, Lwang, Ghandruk hamlet, Tilicho Lake in Manang, Thorong La Pass, Upper Mustang, Muktinath area, Ghodepani in Myagdi, Punhil, and other locations on the Annapurna circuit trek.

The Annapurna conservation area covers 7,600 square kilometers and includes 89 wards from 16 local levels in Kaski, Lamjung, Manang, Myagdi, and Mustang. The Annapurna region has become a popular tourist destination because of its natural beauty, biological richness, mountain life, civilization, culture, and so on.

In terms of attractive destinations with snow ranges, tourism-friendly infrastructure, climate, local friendliness, and service facilities, the Annapurna Circuit Trek is regarded as the top trekking destination in the world. According to 'Acap', short, medium, and long-distance trekking in the Annapurna region can be done via Kaski, Lamjung, Manang, Myagdi, and other routes.