Gandaki, 18 November: 33,310 foreign tourists have entered the Annapurna Conservation Area in the month of November. Among them, 11,678 tourists from South Asian countries and 21,632 tourists from other countries visited the area, according to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).
According to the head of the project, Dr. Ravin Kadaria, 83 thousand 31 foreign tourists have visited the area since last July. During the same period last year, 67,442 tourists visited ‘Acap’. Last year, 222,180 tourists visited the area, and ACAP expects more than 250,000 tourists to enter the area in the current year.
He says that the traffic of tourists has increased since last October. In October, 30,732 foreign tourists visited the area. Among them, there were 11,985 tourists from Asian countries and 18,747 tourists from other countries. According to ACAP, the number of foreign tourists reaching the destinations around the Annapurna cycle path has increased this year compared to last year. Only the statistics of foreign tourists traveling on the Annapurna cycle path have been kept. Every year, a significant number of domestic tourists reach various destinations of ECAP by road and air.
He said that there is a heavy flow of domestic and foreign tourists at Annapurna destinations including Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, Ghandruk, Tilicho Lake in Manang, Thorangla Bhanjyang, Muktinath area, Ghodepani in Myagdi during the main tourist season. By the time the second main tourist season starts, it is expected that this year’s tourist traffic will increase only significantly, said Kadaria, the head of the project.
The Annapurna conservation area spread over seven thousand six hundred square kilometers is considered an attractive destination for trekking. According to tourist guide Divas Gurung, the Annapurna region is the choice of tourists due to its natural beauty, biological diversity, mountain life, culture, etc. Kaski, Lamjung, Manang, Myagdi etc. can be used for short, medium and long distance trekking in the Annapurna region. In terms of attractive destination, tourism-friendly infrastructure, hospitality of local people and service facilities, Annapurna cycle path is considered as the best destination for trekking.
