After the reduction of the number of infections of COVID-19, the number of foreign tourists coming to the Himalayan district of Manang has increased. Foreign tourists coming to Manang increased in the fiscal year 2021/22 compared to the fiscal year 2020/21.
Lekhnath Gautam, head of Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), informed that a total of 7,200 tourists, including 4,749 men and 2,270 women, entered the year 2021/22. According to him, more foreign tourists entered in March, April and May of the financial year. Chief Gautam said that the data was collected on the basis of obtaining an entry permit at the Dharapani Tourist Check Center of ACAP.
"When foreign tourists enter the district, the income of the district also increases. Foreign tourists are not allowed to enter without permission, but domestic tourists are not recorded. Even if there is no fee, there should be arrangements to keep the data", he said. In the year 2020/21, due to the spread of Covid-19, out of a total of 603 foreign tourists who entered Manang, the largest number were from SAARC countries.
According to the centre, most of the citizens of France, Germany, Italy and other countries visit Manang on the footpath. According to the centre, now that the rainy season is over, the number of tourists will start to increase from the 31st of August. Tourists visit the Himalayas, mountain views, high mountains, customs and natural beauty of Manang people and reach Mustang by passing Thorangla from Manang. Some tourists come to the Annapurna trail from Thoralangla to reach Pokhara via Mustang. The entrance of the footpath is at Lamjung Bensisahar Municipality-7 Manange Chautara.
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