The Chum Nubri Rural Municipality in northern Gorkha has announced plans to introduce a trekking fee for tourists visiting the Manaslu Conservation Area. According to Nima Lama, the chairperson of the municipality, the decision was made in line with the Chum Nubri Rural Municipality Financial Act 2081 and the executive meeting of the municipality.
The municipality held discussions with local representatives, political parties, tourism entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders before making the decision. Chairperson Lama stated that there was unanimous agreement on the implementation of the trekking fee.
In coordination with the Department of Tourism, the municipality has already sent a formal request for the necessary support to facilitate the collection of the fee. The decision to implement the trekking fee arose from the fact that the municipality does not receive a share of the fees collected by the National Trust for Nature Conservation and the Department of Immigration.
“The municipality’s internal revenue is extremely limited,” Lama explained. “Since the National Trust for Nature Conservation and the Department of Immigration do not share the revenue generated from the fees they collect in the Manaslu area, we have decided to implement our trekking fee.”
The trekking fee will come into effect on October 17 (Ashwin 1), with foreign tourists required to pay NPR 1,000 per person, and Nepali tourists charged NPR 200 per person. The revenue generated from the fee will be used for environmental conservation and the promotion of tourism within the Chum Nubri and Manaslu Conservation areas.
Chairperson Lama emphasized that the goal of the trekking fee is not solely to increase revenue but also to address environmental concerns. “The Manaslu Conservation Area has not received sufficient attention in terms of environmental preservation and management. The local government is focused on improving waste management and cleanliness in the area,” he added.
