Number of trekkers in Annapurna region up

Pokhara: The number of trekkers in the Annapurna region increased to 113,495 in 2013.

According to Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), a total of 106,499 foreign trekkers had visited Annapurna Region in 2012.

ACAP´s Tourism Officer Narendra Lama told Republica that the number would have gone even higher had the political situation in the country remained better. "Many tourists cancelled their Nepal trip owing to the political uncertainty due to Constituent Assembly (CA) polls in 2013," he added.

The number of trekkers in the Annapurna region has been increasing even though trekking trails are getting shorter due to construction of roads. "Many trekkers, however, have shortened their stay due to poor roads and pollution," he added.

Narayan Sapkota, chairman of Trekking Agencies´ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Pokhara Chapter, said the rise in the number of trekkers was not encouraging. “The number trekkers used to rise at a higher rate in the past years. The small growth is no encouraging," he added.

source: republica,10 jan 2014