TAPLEJUNG, Dec 31: As many as 70 residents of Taplejung district have reached the Kanchanjunga base camp last month. Over 100 locals of the district are heading to the camp now. 

Some youths are planning to reach the base camp in near future, shared Dharke Sherpa, a tourism entrepreneur of Dhunsa. "In the previous years, no Nepali trekkers were seen ascending to the base camp. I did not notice any locals of Taplejung turning up here as tourists". 

He further shared, "But now the situation has changed. Residents of the district are thronging the base camp". The inflow of domestic tourists has rendered relief to the tourism entrepreneurs, he said. The hotels and shops of the tourism area remained closed. Tourism activities were also completely halted. 

Despite the pandemic, mobility of tourists has gradually increased in the area. "It has made us hopeful", said Pasang Sherpa of Gyabla in the base camp.

 
• domestic_tourists
 
• kanchanjunga_base_camp
 
• Taplejung