The Annapurna region of Nepal recorded 191,558 tourists in 2023, marking the highest number of visitors in its tourism history of Nepal. The region has been listed as one of the 10 best tourist destinations in the world.
As per official data, the Annapurna region had visitors from 173 countries, the highest number 96,187 from India followed by 8,526 from France, 7,641 from Germany, 7,249 from the United States of America, 7,174 from the UK and 6,323 from China.
The data indicates a rise in South Asian visitors, with 97,554 recorded in 2023 compared to 53,710 in 2019. Conversely, arrivals from other countries declined from 127,290 in 2019 to 94,004 in 2023. The tourism industry in the region has rebound after a significant fall during COVID-19.
Amidst the pandemic, it recorded the arrivals of 16,105 tourists in 2021. However, this figure increased by more than eight folds to reach 129,733 in 2022.
Annapurna circuit trekking route encompasses various destinations including Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, Ghodepani, Tilicho Lake in Manang, Thorong-La Pass, Upper Mustang and the Muktinath region. It welcomes thousands of tourists from home and abroad each year.
Visitors from India to Annapurna region reiterated that natural beauty, biodiversity, Himalayan way of life and culture enchanted tourists but few suggestions when implemented, would go way forward in increasing the number of Indian tourists to Nepal as more friendly traffic police, increased number of licenced money exchange points and revealing Tourist information on customs point to prevent any trouble to first time visitors.