SOLUKHUMBU: The Khumbu region in Solukhumbu district has experienced a significant surge in tourist arrivals, with Lukla airport reporting an impressive 200 flights in a single day.
This influx signals a bustling trekking season and increased expeditions to Mount Everest.
According to Umesh Panthi, Chief of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) at Lukla, a total of 298 flights from Kathmandu and Manthali in Ramechhap were recorded on Tuesday.
On that day alone, 1,539 tourists arrived in the Khumbu region, comprising 62 flights by aircraft and 139 by helicopter.
Among them, 167 domestic and 667 international tourists arrived by plane, while 615 traveled by helicopter.
As the tourist season gains momentum, flight numbers are expected to rise.
However, many return flights are departing nearly empty, with aircraft and helicopters leaving Khumbu with few passengers.
Local tourism entrepreneurs are thrilled by the influx. “We are busy offering hospitality to our guests,” said Lamakaji Sherpa from Namche.
The trekking season is in full swing, and hoteliers in Lukla, Jorsalle, Phakding, Namche, Khumjung, and Tengboche are actively welcoming visitors.
Manoj Kumar Mandal, from the information office in Namche, noted that registration of tourist arrivals is now mandatory at Jorsalle, the gateway to the Sagarmatha region.
Established in 1976, Sagarmatha National Park spans 1,448 square kilometers and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
It includes Gokyo Lake, added to the Ramsar list in 2007, and is home to diverse wildlife, such as deer, Himalayan blue sheep, baboons, monal pheasants, horned larks, and Tibetan snowcock. The park’s resident population exceeds 3,000.
Comment