Nepalis reaching Punehill increased, foreign tourists decreased

The number of Nepalis coming to climb Lungtungdando (Punhill) has increased dramatically after the construction of a motor road up to Ghorepani, which is the main destination of the Annapurna cycle path. But the number of foreign tourists is decreasing year by year, tourism professionals are worried. According to businessmen, the number of foreign tourists in Ghorepani has not returned to normal after the Corona period.

'After the arrival of the motorway, there have been some benefits and some losses in the tourism sector of Ghorepani. The number of Nepalis has increased. But foreign tourists have decreased. Tourists who prefer to walk are fed up with the road,' said Meena Pun, president of the Ghorepani Tourism Management Committee, 'in my experience, the decrease in foreign tourists is more affected by the road.' According to the records of the restaurant, a maximum of 425 Nepali people and a maximum of 275 foreigners daily went to Lungtungdando (Punhill) this spring. The local Annapurna rural municipality has given a contract for 63 lakh 11 thousand to charge the entrance fee to Lungtungdando (Punhill). The statistics also confirm the assumption that the number of foreigners has decreased due to the negative impact of the

businessmen. According to the records of the Tourism Police located in Ghorepani, before the corona period (the road was dug during the corona period), up to 700 foreign tourists came daily to Ghorepani/Punhill, now the foreign tourist arrival has decreased by more than 60 percent.

'In this spring season, the maximum number of Nepalis came to 425 people. Only around 275 foreign tourists came. Now, Nepalis and foreigners have started to decrease gradually," said Viren Pun, an employee who has been collecting entry fees from local and foreign tourists who climb Lungtungdando, "If foreign tourists stop coming, it will happen. The number of foreign tourists has decreased by more than half.'' They happen. Even when foreign tourists are staying in the hotel, they keep the rooms empty, and they try to give accommodation to Nepalese businessmen. According to

businessmen, Nepalis are learning about hiking and traveling culture, hotel living and cleaning culture. Foreign tourists are preferred because there is more commotion in the hotel where Nepalese stay, they eat a lot of food but the profit is less and they have to invest more in cleaning the hotel. Nepali people often come to Punhil on Saturdays or to celebrate a one-two day holiday as the car is accessible. When they come to celebrate a holiday, they often try to have fun, which is not preferred by foreign tourists who are tired and sleepy after walking all day.

The growing nomadic culture among Nepalis has affected the tourism business. We respect all tourists equally. We welcome you without discrimination,' said Shushil Garvuja, a tourism/hotel businessman from Ghorepani, 'We Nepalis should also learn the culture of travel while traveling a little. You have to be careful not to affect the happiness of others.'