Chitwan. The number of tourists visiting the national park has increased this year as compared to last year.

The number of tourists visiting the national park and buffer community forests has increased by 12,412 in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year.

A total of 156,283 tourists visited the national park in the same period last fiscal year while 168,695 tourists visited the national park this year. According to CNP’s Information Officer Avinash Thapa Magar, a total of 104,096 tourists visited the park till mid-March.

The number was 81,246 last year. Similarly, 9,544 people from SAARC countries and 55,055 from other countries visited the national park this year. Last year, the number were 14,207 and 60,830 respectively.

Visitors visit the park to see wildlife and birds including one-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Bear, Elephant, Deetal, Gharial, and crocodile. The park has collected revenue of Rs 175,57,56,325 in the current fiscal year.

According to him, Rs 71,350 was collected from the sale of timber, Rs 7 million 68 thousand 766 from the sale of non-timber forest products, Rs 166 million 63 lakh 24 thousand 100 from tourism, Rs 759,704 from punishment and Rs 1,522,405 from other headings.