Annapurna Base Camp seeing growing number of tourists

By Our Correspondent,Myagdi (Beni), Apr. 20: With the start of this year's Spring mountaineering season, the number of tourists and climbers reaching Annapurna I's base camp at Narchyang, Myagdi has started to increase.

Tej Gurung, chairman of the Maurice Herzog Trail Management Committee, the number of domestic and foreign nationals arriving at the base camp for a trek or to proceed further to scale the mountain has increased in the last two weeks. "These trekkers and summiteers bode well for the tourism sector," he said.

Gurung believed that the well-maintained routes and good safety record had helped the base camp and the Maurice Herzog trail attract a good number of people, especially Nepalis.

He also informed that 38 Nepali and foreign nationals had climbed the 8,091-metre Annapurna I so far this year. 

Indra Singh Sherchan, a tourism entrepreneur in Dana, Annapurna Rural Municipality–3, said that businesses were excited about the influx of travellers. 

He also felt that the Qatari Princess Sheikha Asma Al Thani and famous mountaineer Nirmal Purja's attempt to reach the peak of Mount Annapurna had helped to promote the region all over the world.