According to the national park's information officer Tika Ram Poudel, the revenue collection from August to October this year has been recorded at Rs 102.3 million, which is a two-thirds dip from the revenue collected in the same period last year.The CNP had collected Rs 306.8 million in the first quarter of the previous fiscal year. A statement released by the national park claimed that it had collected Rs 104.14 million in August alone last year, which is greater than the combined revenue collected in the first quarter of this year.
The catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake of April 25, coupled with over two months of Madhes protests and the economic blockade imposed by India has contributed to 80% decline in tourists visiting the national park. The consequences are clearly visible in the tourism industry, which is also reflected by the sharp dip in the park's revenue collection.
Half of the revenue collected from the park is invested in its buffer zone. The buffer zone consists of human settlements and arable lands adjoining the CNP. There are a total of 21 consumer groups in Nawalparasi, Parsa and Makawanpur districts, all of whom border the CNP. Their budget allocation is fully dependent on revenue collected from the park.
CNP, the first national park of the country, is well known throughout the world as the habitat for endangered one-horned rhinos and Royal Bengal tigers. Considering its contribution in national revenue collection, stakeholders and officials have been pointing out that the diminishing number of tourists and the country's current political situation will have severe impact in the country's economy.
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