BABIYACHAUR (Myagdi), Jan 12: The number of foreign tourists visiting Ghodepani-Ghandruk area of world famous Annapurna Circuit, a main tourist destination, has increased by 31 percent this year as compared to the previous year.
According to data with the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), the figure is put at 47,247 in 2016 while it was approximately 36,000 in 2015.
Ghodepani hotels filled to the brim with Chinese tourists
Ananda Subedi, administration assistant at the ACAP Office, said the areas where the number of tourists visited include Ghodepani, Ghandruk, Annapurna Base Camp and Khopra area, the main tourist destinations.
Although the initial period following the earthquake of April 25, 2015 saw a slight fall in the number of tourists visiting the areas, the recent period was encouraging, said Bidur Kuikel, chief of the ACAP, Ghandruk.
Ghodepani Ghandruk trekking route is famous for art, culture, lifestyle of Magar and Gurung settlements. Besides, one can view panorama around the areas and scenes of various mountains and sunrise from the site.
Each citizen of SAARC countries is charged Rs 200 to visit ACAP while the entry fee for people from other foreign countries is Rs 2,000 each. RSS
