Gandaki. A total of 30,547 foreign tourists visited the Annapurna region last September. According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, 10,019 tourists from South Asian countries and 20,528 tourists from other countries visited the area.

According to Project Chief Dr Rabin Kadariya, this year 185 fewer tourists visited the airport this year as compared to September. According to him, the flow of Indian tourists has decreased due to the Genji demonstration in August and the disruption in the weather.

According to him, 28,705 tourists visited the area in the fiscal year 2080/81 and 30,732 in the fiscal year 2081/82 BS. The number of tourists is expected to increase in the Annapurna region in November, he added.

Kadariya, chief of the project, said that the number of domestic tourists has increased in Mustang and surrounding areas after the Tihar festival. “Foreign tourists come trekking in this area during this season. A total of 33,310 foreign tourists had visited Annapurna region in the month of November.

The project office has been keeping data only of foreign tourists visiting the Annapurna circuit trekking route. “A significant number of domestic tourists enter the area via road every year,” said Kadariya, chief of the project. According to him, the inflow of domestic tourists also increases during this period as major festivals and holidays fall along with the tourist season.

Project Chief Dr Kadariya said that tourists visit Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, Ghandruk, Tilicho Lake of Manang, Thorangla Bhanjyang, Upper Mustang, Ghorepani of Myagdi and Punhi among other destinations along the Annapurna route during this season.

Stating that the number of trekkers coming to this area would decrease during the rainy and winter seasons, he said the inflow of domestic and foreign tourists would increase in other seasons. According to him, most of the Indian tourists who go to Muktinath and other religious destinations use roadways but those from other countries prefer trekking.

The Annapurna Conservation Area covers 87 wards of 15 local levels in Kaski, Lamjung, Manang, Myagdi and Mustang. The Annapurna region is famous for trekking tourism in the world.