Despite the biting cold, Phoksundo Lake, renowned as the country’s deepest lake and fondly called the “Blue Diamond,” continues to lure both domestic and international tourists.
Chief Conservation Officer at Shey-Phoksundo National Park, Nurendra Aryal, revealed that 1,632 tourists visited the Phoksundo Lake area between mid-July and mid-October. Among them, domestic tourists outnumbered their foreign counterparts. Over the past five months, 326 international visitors, including those from SAARC nations, generated revenue amounting to NPR 1.053 million.
Furthermore, the park has collected NPR 6.57 million from eco-tourism, forest produce sales, and other charges since the beginning of the current fiscal year until October.
Growing Popularity of Dolpa’s Attractions
Local resident Laxman Devkota of Tripurasundari Municipality-1 emphasized the increasing influx of domestic tourists. He attributed this rise to the appeal of Dolpa’s stunning destinations, such as Phoksundo Lake, Tripurasundari Temple, She-Gumba, and Dho Tarap.
However, he highlighted the need for infrastructure improvements, including regular flights between Nepalgunj and Dolpa, betterment of the Bheri corridor, and enhanced hotel facilities, to significantly boost tourism.
Economic Benefits for Dolpa
Hoteliers in Dunai, the district headquarters, echoed these sentiments, stating that domestic tourism offers greater opportunities for trade and business promotion. Most domestic tourists arrive on motorcycles, taking advantage of the accessible Nepalgunj-Surkhet-Jajarkot-Rukum route to reach Dunai.
As Phoksundo Lake and its surrounding attractions continue to captivate visitors, Dolpa’s tourism sector shows promising growth, with increased efforts toward infrastructure development likely to propel it further.