GORKHA: The Manaslu region in northern Gorkha has received a record number of foreign tourists, with 12,259 visitors arriving by April of the current fiscal year.
According to the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP), this is the highest tourist inflow recorded in the region’s history.
MCAP Chief Santosh Sherchan shared that 9,782 tourists visited the region in fiscal year 2080/81 BS, as many as 7,705 in 2079/80, and 2,284 in 2078/79.
“Tourist numbers have been steadily increasing each year,” he said. MCAP had set a target of attracting 12,500 tourists in fiscal year 2081/82, and as of April, 98.07 percent of the target has already been met. The final number is expected to surpass the target.
“The influx of tourists had dropped significantly after the Covid-19 pandemic,” Sherchan explained. “The lowest number was recorded in 2077/78, with just 194 visitors.” In previous years, the area received 5,338 tourists in 2076/77 and 7,655 in 2075/76.
Sherchan further informed that entry fees for the Manaslu region have been set at Rs 1,000 per person for SAARC nationals and Rs 3,000 for other foreign nationals. These fees can be paid at designated counters in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, and Damsite, Pokhara.
“Tourists who fail to pay the entry fee at these locations will have to pay double at the MCAP checkpoints in Jagat and Samagaun,” said Sherchan. As the Manaslu region falls under a restricted area, tourists are also required to obtain special permits from the Department of Immigration.
According to Sherchan, the Department issues one-week permits for the Chum and Nubri valleys. The fee for visiting Chum Valley is $50 per person during the tourist season and $25 during the off-season.
For Nubri Valley, the seasonal fee is $70 per person, and $35 during the off-season. Tourists staying longer than a week are required to pay additional fees.
The Manaslu region includes seven wards of Chum Nubri Rural Municipality. The former VDCs of Samagaun, Lho, Prok, and Bihi are collectively known as the Nubri Valley, while Chumchet and Chekampar are known as the Chum Valley. The region was officially opened to foreign tourists in 1995.
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