POKHARA, Jan. 6: The number of tourists going for trekking in the Annapurna region has decreased with the decrease in the arrival of tourists in the country.

The number of tourists in the Annapurna Conservation Area, which is very famous to have the glimpse of the snowy peaks, rural culture and natural beauty of the hills, has decreased by 43 per cent this year.

The number of trekkers coming to this area has been decreasing gradually for the last two years. 
Over 76,000 trekkers had visited the Annapurna area, a famous and safe trekking area of the country, in 2000 that number decreased to 65,300 last year.

About 35,600 tourists have gone for trekking in the area by the end of November this year.

“No any incident has happened in this area and the tourists have not faced any difficulties but the number is decreasing due to the negative publicity about Nepal in the foreign countries”, said Indira Baral, chairperson of Nepal Association of Trekking Agents, Pokhara Chapter.

“Strike, Nepal bandh and the environment of terrorism may be the reason in the decrease of tourist in this area,” said Gehendra Gurung, director of Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Pokhara.

There used to be crowd of tourists in the trekking routes and the hotels used to be full during the trekking season but now the situation is just opposite, proprietor of Hotel Hill Top of Ghandruk Tej Bahadur Gurung said.

About two third tourists visiting Nepal go for trekking and among them 70 percent prefer to go on trekking in the Annapurna area.

Tourists go for trekking from five to 21 days from Gharkhola, Birethanti, Dhampus, Khudi route and each tourist has to pay Rs. 2,000 to Annapurna Conservation Area Project for the entry.