Tourist arrivals up in Chitwan National Park

Chitwan, March 20: The Chitwan National Park in Chitwan district recorded a notable surge in tourist arrivals this fiscal year compared to the previous one. 

The number of visitors to the Park and its buffer zone community forest rose by 12,412 in the 8 months of the current fiscal year 2025/26 compared to the same period last year.

The Park welcomed 168,695 visitors this year, up from 156,283 during the same period last year.

According to Abhinash Thapa Magar, Information Officer at the Park, among the visitors exploring the Park, the most striking number has come from within the country. 

The Park received 104,096 domestic tourists, a significant rise from 81,246 in the previous year.

Likewise, Information Officer Thapa shared that 9,544 visitors arrived from SAARC countries, while 55,055 tourists came from other countries as of mid-March. 

Last year, the Park had received 14,207 visitors from SAARC countries and 60,830 from other countries. 

While arrivals from SAARC countries and other international destinations showed a slight decline, the overall numbers remains strong, noted Thapa.

Chitwan National Park spanning across 952.63 square km is a sanctuary for 68 species of mammals, 544 species of birds, 56 species of reptiles and amphibians, 126 species of fish. 

Known for its rare and diverse wildlife, the country's first national park continues to captivate visitors. 

Officials said that the Park's major attraction include endangered one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, bear, elephants, gharial crocodiles along with a wide variety of bird species, said officials.

With a surge in the number of visitors, the Park recorded a strong revenue collection, generating over Rs 175 million in revenue in the last eight months with eco-tourism contributing to the lion's share.

Additional income has come from forest products, penalties and other sources. (RSS)