LAMJUNG, Oct 12: Tourist arrivals on the p Circuit are picking up after floods, landslides and snowfall disrupted travel and sharply reduced visitor numbers.
Bhupendra Gurung, who oversees the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Tourist Check and Information Centre in Dharapani, said the centre is now receiving around 150 to 200 tourists daily.
Clearing snow from the trail to the 5,416-metre Thorong La Pass has eased travel for visitors heading from Manang to Mustang. However, heavy rain and snowfall between September 24 and 27, followed by adverse weather from October 8 to 11, disrupted travel and reduced daily arrivals to as few as one or two.
Annapurna Circuit sees surge in arrival of tourists
The centre recorded 1,447 tourists between October 4 and 11, including 887 men and 560 women. Israel accounted for the highest number of visitors at 141, followed by Australia (121), Germany (109), Spain (103) and Britain (97).
During last year's peak season, the circuit received 400 to 500 tourists daily. Gurung expects arrivals to increase as road and trail conditions improve.
The Annapurna Circuit, which runs from Besisahar in Lamjung through Manang and across Thorong La Pass to Mustang, attracts domestic and international visitors with its mountain scenery, natural beauty and local culture.
Pancha Bahadur Gurung, a tourism entrepreneur from Jagat in Marsyangdi Rural Municipality-4, said rising tourist numbers could boost the local economy.
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