In a recent development concerning the Manaslu Conservation Area, new guidelines for entry fees have been established for visitors, including foreigners, SAARC nationals, and Nepalese tourists. According to the updated policy, the entrance fee collection center will charge Rs. 3000 for foreigners, Rs. 1000 for SAARC nationals, and Rs. 100 for Nepali tourists.
Tourists are required to obtain an entry permit by paying the specified fee. For trekking in this conservation area, foreign tourists must also secure an entry card issued by the Immigration Department after paying the government-set fee.
The recent Bodhartha letter (No. 108/2081/82) dated 2081/05/21, which was reviewed by the fund on Bhadra 20, 2081, during a meeting with village officials, political representatives, tourism professionals, and stakeholders, highlights a discrepancy in fee collection practices. It was noted that while the local government has been charging Rs. 1000 for foreigners and Rs. 200 for trekking entry, this practice does not fully align with the Local Government Management Act 2074 and the Local Finance Act 2081.
According to Section 64, paragraph 9 of the Local Government Management Act, the determination and collection of entry fees for mountaineering, national parks, wildlife reserves, and conservation areas should be prescribed by the Government of Nepal. Therefore, the current practice of charging entry fees for hiking is being reconsidered to avoid potential damage to the region’s tourism by spreading negative perceptions among visitors.
Santosh Sherchan, Project Head of Bodhartha, has requested that the decision to collect entry fees be reviewed to ensure it complies with national regulations and supports the sustainable growth of tourism in the Manaslu Conservation Area. The request has been forwarded to relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest, and Environment of Gandaki Province, the Tourism Department, the Immigration Department, the National Nature Conservation Fund, the District Administration Office of Gorkha, and other concerned agencies.
