Destination opened, Tourists have also started flocking

POKHARA: SEPT. 20 – Less than seven tourists are allowed to visit Annapurna daily. Under the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, trekking has been fully opened for tourists in five districts.

More than 30 foreign tourists have entered Jomsom after the lockdown, said Rishi Baral, an official of ACAP. According to him, a team of 16 people has been admitted to going to Dhawalagiri Ice Fall.

A team of 10 people from the two teams is heading towards Mustang. He informed that there are some passers of Thorang. “Tourists with PCR are no longer barred. But PCR is mandatory, ‘he said,’ tourists from Australia, Spain, China and other countries have come. They are not stuck in a lockdown. They came to Nepal after lockdown lifts just to travel.

But the Muktinath temple is not open yet. COVID-19 had a bad effect on that area. Five people died due to COVID-19. Some became seriously ill. They were airlifted to Pokhara and Kathmandu. The locals have demanded that the Religious Area Development Committee should provide relief to the victims. Baral said that there is no possibility of opening the temple until the committee provides relief.

Some tourists have taken permits to go from Lamjung to Mustang via Manang. Some have gone to Mardi Himal Trek. ‘Tourists have started coming. Internals are also coming. But foreign tourists have been seen, ‘said local tourism leader Sudip Gautam.’ The hotel was opened much later. If the lockdown is not added, tourists will come with confidence now. ‘

Tourists have also started flocking to Annapurna base camp. The base camp has been open since Sept. 17. It has been decided to open all the hotels in the ACAP area from Tuesday. Not only ACAP, another conservation project of Gandaki, Manaslu is crowded with tourists.

Tourists from many countries have taken permission to climb Manaslu Mountain. The companies have stated that the ascent will start from this week as the road to the third camp has already been constructed. This month, 171 climbers, including 133 men and 38 women from 17 climbing teams, have taken permission to climb.

Ajit Tumbhamphe, executive director of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project, said that it could increase further. According to him, some tourists have also taken permission for trekking.

Most of the hotel restaurants in Pokhara are open. Tourist activities have started in the tourist areas including Phewa Lake and Patale Chango (Davis Falls).