On Kartik 29, 2081, the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki submitted a formal letter of concern to the Minister of Industry and Tourism of Gandaki Province, Honorable Mitra Lal Basyal, highlighting new fees imposed on trekkers in conservation and trekking areas. TAAN Gandaki expressed serious objections regarding the recent implementation of tourist fees by local authorities, emphasizing the negative impacts on tourism and urging intervention for the efficient operation of Pokhara International Airport.
TAAN Gandaki’s attention was focused on the fees imposed by Chumnubri Rural Municipality within the Manaslu Conservation Area, where foreign trekkers are required to pay NPR 1,000 per person, while domestic trekkers are charged NPR 200. Similarly, Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality in Kaski has begun collecting NPR 100 from domestic tourists and NPR 200 from international tourists at Khumai and Tuse points along the trekking route.
According to TAAN Gandaki, these charges add unnecessary expenses for trekkers, potentially deterring both domestic and international visitors and reducing the competitiveness of trekking in Gandaki Province. This, the organization emphasized, could harm the local tourism industry, which relies on an uninterrupted flow of trekkers, especially in remote areas where livelihoods depend on tourism.
In addition to raising concerns about trekking fees, TAAN Gandaki urged Minister Basyal to expedite operations at Pokhara International Airport, emphasizing its importance as a critical gateway for both regional and international tourists. Prompt action to improve operational efficiency, TAAN noted, would bolster tourism by enhancing accessibility and convenience for travelers to Gandaki Province.
The letter calls for Gandaki Province’s government to address these challenges swiftly to sustain the positive growth trajectory of the trekking and tourism sectors, which are vital for the region’s economy and community prosperity.