CHITWAN: Chitwan National Park (CNP) saw an impressive surge in tourist footfall during this year’s Dashain vacation, with more than 20,000 visitors, according to officials. Of the total visitors, 13,233 were Nepalis.

The CNP managed to generate revenue of Rs 18.54 million from the influx of visitors during the festive season, signaling a notable boost in comparison to previous years.

Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, Information Officer of the CPN, revealed that 779 tourists from SAARC countries and 6,048 from other nations explored the park, with a majority entering from the Sauraha area.

The data shows that approximately 18,000 visitors entered the CNP from the Sauraha area, partaking in 404 jeep safaris.

Additionally, around 1,100 tourists accessed the park from the Kasara area, while some explorers ventured from the Madi area, Amaltari area, and Kujauli area.

Amidst the influx, there has been a noticeable upsurge in foreign tourists in Sauraha.

Hoteliers reported an average of 1,500 daily foreign visitors, resulting in a staggering 95 percent occupancy rate in the area’s hotels.

The surge in numbers has prompted hotel bookings to reach 75 percent capacity, extending into December as the interest among foreigners continues to grow post-Dashain festival.