KATHMANDU, Aug 11: The number of tourists visiting Bhaktapur has increased. In the last fiscal year (FY) 2079/80 BS (2022/23), as many as 167,652 foreign tourists visited Bhaktapur.
In FY 2079/80 BS there were 114,092 more tourists than in FY 2078/79 BS (2021/22). If we look at the data of the fiscal year FY 2078/79 BS, a total of 53,560 tourists visited Bhaktapur during one year.
In the last fiscal year, 86,334 tourists from non-SAARC countries and 81,318 tourists from SAARC countries and China visited Bhaktapur.
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In the same fiscal year, more than Rs 184 million was collected in tourism fees.of that amount, over Rs 143.4 million tourism fees have been collected from non-SAARC tourists and Rs 46 million from tourists from the SAARC countries and China.
In FY 2078/79 BS, more than Rs 48.9 million tourism fees were collected. In FY 2079/80 BS, the municipality earned Rs 133.1 million from tourism fees.
According to the data of Tourism Service Center of Bhaktapur Municipality in FY 2079/80 BS, USA, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iceland , India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japanese, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and other countries visited Bhaktapur.
Currently, Bhaktapur Municipality is collecting tourism fees from foreign tourists entering the city from 14 counters namely Khauma, Sano Byasi, Thulo Byasi, Mahakali, Bekhal, Muldhoka, Kamalbinayak, Chyamasingh, Jagati, Bhelukhel, Ram Mandir, Barahi, Bansagopal, Bharwacho. Tourists who enter Bhaktapur without paying the fee will be arrested immediately and made to pay the fee.
Bhaktapur Municipality has been collecting Rs 1,800 from non-SAARC tourists and Rs 500 per person from SAARC and Chinese tourists.
Mayor of Bhaktapur Municipality, Sunil Prajapati said that the tourism service fee collected from tourists entering Bhaktapur is the main source of income of the municipality. He highlighted that these funds support essential community services like heritage preservation, education, healthcare, sanitation, and development initiatives within Bhaktapur.
