Tourist influx rises in Everest region: Over 12,000 visit in a month

Tourist arrivals in the Everest region have surged with the onset of spring. According to Sagarmatha National Park, 12,003 visitors entered the area during Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April), making it the highest monthly total so far this fiscal year. The season is ideal for mountaineering, trekking, and Himalayan sightseeing, drawing both domestic and international tourists, according to the park's ranger Bibek Shrestha.

The increase in footfall has boosted business in Khumbu, with hotels from Lukla to Namche operating at full capacity. While most tourists fly to Lukla, poor weather conditions have led many to opt for overland travel via Salleri and Surke. Road expansion in recent years has provided a reliable alternative to air travel, especially during flight disruptions.



Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, spans 1,148 sq km and ranges in elevation from 1,800 to 8,848 meters. It is home to Mt Everest, rich biodiversity, and significant Sherpa cultural heritage. Over the first nine months of the fiscal year, 44,608 tourists visited the park, generating more than Rs 113 million in revenue.

Of them, 37,796 were foreigners and 5,897 were Nepali..