GANDaki, Oct 20: Millions of rupees in revenue are collected annually from foreign tourists visiting restricted areas of the Annapurna Conservation Area after obtaining permits. Foreign nationals are allowed to visit Upper Mustang and the Nar-Phu area of Manang with special permission.
According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Rs 216.9975 million was collected in entry fees from tourists visiting restricted areas last fiscal year.
Project Chief Dr. Rabin Kadariya said USD 500 per person was collected from 1,855 tourists who obtained permits for a 10-day visit to Upper Mustang, while USD 50 per person was charged to 2,569 tourists visiting for one day.
Similarly, 1,338 tourists entered the Nar-Phu area of Manang with seven-day permits and paid an entry fee of USD 100 per person.
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Entry fees for restricted areas are collected through the immigration office. Kadariya said the revenue collected through the office goes to the federal government.
Revenue from entry fees paid by foreign tourists visiting restricted areas amounted to Rs 301.752 million in fiscal year 2081/82 BS and Rs 238.966 million in fiscal year 2080/81 BS.
The government has designated areas bordering Tibet as restricted zones. Most tourists visit Upper Mustang and the Nar-Phu area of Manang for trekking.
Kadariya said the project collected Rs 677.591 million in revenue last fiscal year from foreign tourists visiting parts of the Annapurna Conservation Area outside the restricted zones.
The project office charges Rs 1,000 for tourists from South Asian countries and Rs 3,000, including VAT, for tourists from other countries.
A record number of foreign tourists visited the conservation area last fiscal year, leading to the highest-ever revenue from entry fees. A total of 508,476 foreign tourists visited the area in fiscal year 2082/83 BS, including 384,145 from South Asian countries and 124,331 from other countries. Indian tourists accounted for the largest share, at 375,797.
Revenue from tourist entry fees reached Rs 464.881 million in fiscal year 2081/82 BS, compared with Rs 389.461 million in fiscal year 2080/81 BS.
The project office said revenue from tourist entry fees and other sources is spent on conservation activities and tourism promotion programmes.
RSS