The number of tourists visiting Chitwan National Park saw a notable increase in the last fiscal year, contributing to a significant boost in revenue for the park.
According to Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, Information Officer at Chitwan National Park, 306,837 tourists visited the park in the fiscal year 2080/081, up from 299,412 in the previous fiscal year 2079/080. This marks an increase of 7,425 visitors.
Domestic tourists accounted for 176,316 of the total visitors, compared to 205,605 in the previous fiscal year. There was a remarkable rise in visitors from countries outside the SAARC region, growing from 55,872 in 2079/080 to over 94,000 in the last fiscal year.
The increase in tourist numbers has positively impacted the park’s revenue, with collections from eco-tourism reaching Rs 305.7 million in the last fiscal year, a significant rise from Rs 229.3 million in the previous year.
This surge in tourism coincides with the Bharatpur Metropolitan City’s initiative to mark Bharatpur Visit Year 2024. Mayor Renu Dahal highlighted the extensive national and international publicity efforts aimed at attracting more tourists. “The increased number of tourists in Chitwan National Park can be attributed to the Bharatpur Visit Year campaign,” Mayor Dahal said.
Chitwan National Park remains the primary tourist destination in Bharatpur, drawing the highest number of visitors to the district. With continued efforts to promote the region, the park is expected to see sustained growth in tourist arrivals and revenue.
