700 tourists arrive in Sagarmatha region in a single day

Solukhumbu, April 22: The Sagarmatha region has witnessed the footfall of some 700 tourists in a single day.

The Office of the Sagarmatha National Park at Namche informed that it recorded the tourists in the Khumbu region at 694 on Monday alone. Ranger at the Office, Bibek Shrestha, said there was adequate hotel occupancy with the arrival of a large number of visitors.

Most of the tourists are foreigners- 608, while the domestic tourists numbered 86. The Sagarmatha climber Temba Chhiri Sherpa informed that with the onset of the Spring Season, the region saw an influx of tourists. It is difficult to find good accommodation due to a surge in arrivals.

There are increasing air flights to Lukla with the clear weather, according to Amrit Magar, in charge of Tara Air at Lukla. “We’ve added flights considering the improved weather so that more tourists could visit the district having the world’s highest peak,” he said, adding that hotel reservations are high now.

Senior Vice Chairman of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal, Karma Sherpa, said the tourism entrepreneurs were happy to see tourists inflow. The region is bustling after Covid-19, which has hit hard the tourism business.

The more tourists in the Sagarmatha district the more jobs to locals. Hotels at Lukla and Namche are packed, Sherpa added. Most of these tourists visit the Sagarmatha National Park to increase their revenue.

The Park’s Office informed that a visitor from SAARC nation is imposed a Rs 1,500 fee while Rs 3,000 is taken from each foreigner from other countries as an entry fee in the Park. A Nepali is required to submit a Rs 100 entry fee.