Tourists from 120 countries trekked Annapurna Circuit in 2014

POKHARA: Tourists from 120 countries enjoyed the Annapurna Circuit Trek in 2014.

Junu Pun, tourism assistant at Dharapani check post of Annapurna Conservation Area project (ACAP), said the popular trekking trail received visitors from 120 countries from across the world in 2014. Last year, the trail had received visitors from 86 countries. “The popularity of Annapurna Region is growing with each passing year. We are getting visitors from across the world,” she added.
 
Data compiled by ACAP shows a total of 20,694 foreign tourists enjoyed the Annapurna Circuit Trek in 2014. The trek begins from Besishahar of Lamjung and concludes in Jomsom after crossing Thorong La Pass (5,416m). Last year, 21,207 tourists had completed the trek.

Tourism entrepreneurs say the popular trekking route is attracting visitors from across the world. “Not only the conventional markets, we have started receiving guests from new markets,” Ram Chandra Sharma, president of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Western Regional Association, Pokhara, said.

Tourists from Sri Lanka, Syria, Pakistan, Mongolia, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Dominican Republic, Cambodia, Bolivia and Paraguay enjoyed the Annapurna Circuit trek in 2014.

“Word of mouth publicity is the biggest advertisement. It is good to note that tourists from new countries are coming here and promoting our products and services in their countries,” added Sharma.

France (2,702), Israel (2,687), Germany (2,042), United States (1,441), United Kingdom (1,317), Australia (1,095), Russia (859), Spain (849), Netherlands (812) and South Korea (691) were the top 10 countries in terms of number of visitors completing the Annapurna Circuit Trek in 2014, according to ACAP.

source:SANTOSH POKHAREL, republica,2 March 2015