In a remarkable development for the tourism sector, a total of 228 foreign tourists have entered the Sagarmatha region in the past week. This is a notable number, especially during the off-season, when tourist arrivals are typically lower. The information was provided by the Lukla office of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).
According to the office’s in-charge, Jinish Rajbhandari, between December 26 and January 2 (Poush 11 to 18), a total of 228 foreign tourists, including 91 women and 137 men, arrived in Lukla for their visit to the region. The daily arrivals included 28 tourists on Poush 11, 31 on Poush 12, 30 on Poush 13, 66 on Poush 14, 36 on Poush 15, 19 on Poush 16, 4 on Poush 17, and 14 on Poush 18.
Tourism professionals have expressed optimism as foreign tourist arrivals during the off-season have been better than in previous years. Toya Kumar Shrestha, a tourism entrepreneur, mentioned that although the number of tourists visiting during this time of year was once almost zero, this year, the arrivals have been encouraging.
With the increase in foreign visitors despite the cold weather, hotel businesses in the region are also seeing positive effects. Hotel owner Jangmu Sherpa shared, “The influx of foreign tourists during the off-season has brought us a lot of happiness. In previous years, we would hardly have any tourists during December and January, but this year, we are receiving more tourists, which is benefiting the hotel industry.”
However, tourism professionals like Lamakaji Sherpa pointed out the challenges posed by the cold weather in Khumbu. The snowfall has caused severe cold, making daily activities difficult, and the freezing temperatures have led to problems with water supply, as pipes have frozen. Local residents reported that temperatures in Khumbu have dropped below -15°C following a snowfall a week ago, causing many business owners to migrate to Kathmandu and other areas to escape the intense cold.
In light of the growing number of foreign tourists in the region, the Nepal Police have stepped up their security measures. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Dwarika Prasad Ghimire, the police units in the Khumbu area have been activated to ensure the safety and security of the tourists. Ghimire emphasized that with the increased tourist influx, security has been enhanced through mobile patrols, and all police units in the Sagarmatha region have been briefed to maintain peace and security.
“We have increased our vigilance in the region to ensure the safety of foreign visitors. We are committed to maintaining peace and security without any compromise,” said Deputy Superintendent Ghimire.