The Annapurna Conservation Area recorded a historic increase in foreign tourist arrivals in the last fiscal year, with visitors from 169 countries travelling to various destinations within the region.
According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), a total of 508,476 foreign tourists entered the conservation area during the last fiscal year. Of the total visitors, 384,145 were from South Asian countries, while 124,331 were from other countries.
India Remains the Largest Source Market
Indian tourists accounted for the overwhelming majority of foreign visitors to the Annapurna region, with 375,797 Indian nationals visiting the area during the period. China ranked second with 12,539 visitors, followed by the United States with 9,884. Similarly, 9,859 tourists from the United Kingdom, 7,939 from France, 7,848 from Malaysia, 7,634 from Germany, 7,448 from Bangladesh, 7,095 from Australia, and 6,398 from Israel visited the Annapurna Conservation Area.
Tourist Arrivals More Than Double in One Year
According to Dr Rabin Kadaraiya, Chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, the number of foreign tourists visiting the region more than doubled compared to the previous fiscal year. The Annapurna region received 278,113 foreign tourists in fiscal year 2081/82, while the figure rose to 508,476 in the last fiscal year. Dr Kadaraiya said the region set a new record for tourist arrivals during the period.
South Asian Tourist Arrivals Surge by Nearly 300 Percent
Dr Kadaraiya said tourist arrivals from India and other South Asian countries increased by nearly 300 percent in Jestha compared to the previous period. He noted that this was the first time the region had welcomed such a large number of Indian tourists. The increase has been attributed to the promotion of destinations such as Pokhara and Muktinath in India, improved transportation facilities, and growing promotion through social media platforms.
Indian tourists have increasingly been visiting Pokhara and surrounding destinations to escape the summer heat. During the months of Baisakh and Jestha, hotel occupancy in Pokhara, Nepal’s tourism capital, reached as high as 90 percent. According to Dr Kadaraiya, approximately 40 percent of Indian tourists visiting Pokhara also travel to the Muktinath area, further contributing to the growth of tourism in the Annapurna region.
Annapurna Region Offers Diverse Trekking and Cultural Destinations
The Annapurna Conservation Area is one of the world’s renowned destinations for trekking tourism. Tourists travelling through the Annapurna Circuit and other trekking routes visit a wide range of destinations, including Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, Ghandruk, Tilicho Lake in Manang, Thorong La Pass, Upper Mustang, the Muktinath area, and Ghorepani in Myagdi. The region’s diverse landscapes, ranging from subtropical valleys to high Himalayan terrain, have made it a major attraction for both adventure and nature-based tourism.
Conservation Area Spans 7,600 Square Kilometres
The Annapurna Conservation Area covers approximately 7,600 square kilometres and is renowned for its natural beauty, rich biodiversity, Himalayan lifestyle, and diverse cultural heritage.
The conservation area covers 87 wards of 15 local governments across the districts of Kaski, Lamjung, Manang, Myagdi, and Mustang.
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project maintains statistics specifically on foreign tourists visiting destinations within the conservation area. With its attractive destinations, tourism-friendly infrastructure, hospitality, and expanding tourism services, the region continues to be regarded as one of Nepal’s premier destinations for trekking, nature, culture, and adventure tourism.
