MYAGDI: Annapurna Rural Municipality in Nepal’s Myagdi district has identified its major tourist destinations as an important source of internal revenue and is generating income by awarding contracts for entrance fee collection and the operation of tea shops and refreshment centers.
In the current fiscal year 2083/84 BS (2026/27), the rural municipality has generated Rs 13,066,555 from contracts awarded for revenue collection and business operations at major tourist destinations, including Poon Hill, Paudwar, Ratopani Kunda, and Rupse Waterfall.
Kapil Pandey, chief administrative officer of Annapurna Rural Municipality, said contracts for revenue collection at Poon Hill, Paudwar, Ratopani, and Rupse Waterfall have already been finalized. He added that the tender process for collecting entrance fees and operating a refreshment center at Bhurung-Tatopani Kund, for which the minimum bid was set at Rs 950,000, is currently under evaluation.
The tender for Bhurung-Tatopani Kunda was invited for operations during Asoj and Kartik (mid-September to mid-November) as preparations are underway for infrastructure development at the site.
At Poon Hill in Ward No. 6, Sunny Hotel of Ghorepani secured the contract for Rs 7,100,500 to collect entrance fees and operate a tea shop. Similarly, contracts were awarded for Rs 5,010,000 at Paudwar Tatopani Kunda, Rs 400,500 at Ratopani, and Rs 555,555 for entrance fee collection at Rupse Waterfall.
The municipality had set minimum base rates of Rs 5,250,000 for Poon Hill, Rs 2,750,000 for Paudwar Tatopani, Rs 400,000 for Ratopani Kunda, and Rs 200,000 for entrance fee collection at Rupse Waterfall. According to the municipality, operators who submitted bids above the minimum rates have deposited the contracted amounts in advance and received a 10 percent discount in accordance with the law.
However, no bids were received for operating canteens at Sekarku Tatopani in Narchyang and Mahabhir Waterfall.
Hotels operating in the Khopra area of the rural municipality are subject to an annual business tax of Rs 30,000 and a public land use tax of Rs 36,000. The municipality also collects business taxes from hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops operating in Moharedanda, Rupse Waterfall, Ghorepani, and the Chhotepa and Humkhola areas near Annapurna Base Camp.
In the last fiscal year, 2082/83 BS, the rural municipality collected Rs 11.5 million from tourist sites, against an overall internal revenue target of Rs 21.275 million. Rural Municipality Chairperson Bharat Kumar Pun said tourist destinations are expected to make a significant contribution to the municipality’s internal revenue target of Rs 25 million for the current fiscal year.
The entrance fee at Poon Hill and Bhurung-Tatopani has been fixed at Rs 50 per person for Nepali visitors and Rs 150 for foreign visitors.
Annapurna Rural Municipality is home to several prominent tourist destinations, including Ghorepani, Poon Hill, Moharedanda, Khopra, Khayar Lake, Rupse Waterfall, Narchyang, Mahabhir Waterfall, and several hot springs. Ward No. 4, Narchyang, is also home to Mount Annapurna I, the world’s tenth-highest mountain and Nepal’s ninth-highest peak.
Rural Municipality Vice-Chairperson Diwa Tilija Pun said the local government is focusing on increasing internal revenue and improving residents’ livelihoods through infrastructure development, publicity, and promotion of tourist destinations.
According to Pun, the municipality has allocated Rs 23 million in the current fiscal year for infrastructure development at the Bhurung-Tatopani hot spring, and preparations are underway to implement the planned projects.
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