618 tourists from 46 countries visit Manang in January

By Yadu Prasad Bhatta

Manang, Feb. 5: Despite the biting cold, 618 foreign tourists from 46 countries visited Manang in January this year.

According to statistics from the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) field office in Manang, China topped the list with the highest number of visitors, recording 199 tourists. 

India ranked second with 106 visitors, followed by South Korea with 78, Germany with 24, and France with 24 tourists.

Bangladesh and Australia recorded 24 tourists each, placing them in the sixth and seventh positions, respectively. 

The United Kingdom followed with 19 tourists, while the Netherlands had 18 and the United States recorded 14, completing the top ten list.

The ACAP data also revealed that only one tourist each from 16 different countries visited Manang in January. 

Additionally, nine countries had two tourists each. Three tourists came from New Zealand and Slovenia, while four visitors each arrived from four different countries.

Italy and Japan sent five tourists to Manang, while Belgium recorded six visitors. 

Similarly, Russia and Switzerland had eight tourists each exploring the region in January.

In previous years, foreign tourists rarely visited Manang during the off-season. 

However, ACAP Manang Chief Dhak Bahadur Bhujel said that due to climate change, decreased snowfall, and improved road access during winter, more foreign tourists have been visiting the region.