In 2023, Nepal welcomed a record-breaking number of 191,558 tourists who embarked on the renowned Annapurna Base Camp trek, marking the highest influx to date, as reported by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).
This surpassed the previous milestone set in 2019 when 181,000 individuals explored the Annapurna region.
Notably, in 2019, 53,710 tourists from South Asian countries visited, and by 2022, this figure had risen to 97,554.
Decline in Non-SAARC Tourists
Although, in contrast to previous years, ACAP statistics indicate a decline in the number of tourists from countries outside South Asia during the same period.
In 2019, a total of 127,290 tourists from countries outside the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) visited Nepal for exploration of the Annapurna region.
However, in 2022, this number decreased to 94,004, as reported by Dr. Rabin Kadariya, the Chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).
Dr. Kadariya stated that in 2023, tourists from 173 countries explored the Annapurna region.
Among them, the highest number of tourists hailed from India, totaling 96,187 tourists.
During this period, 2023, the Annapurna region recorded the entry of tourists from various countries, including 8,526 from France, 7,641 from Germany, 7,249 from the United States, 7,174 from the United Kingdom, and 6,323 from China.
Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism Flow
The flow of tourists in the Annapurna region experienced a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nevertheless, as the pandemic subsided, a significant increase occurred, with many more tourists entering and exploring the region, ultimately catching up to its usual flow of visitors.
In 2021, with the COVID-19 pandemic still prevalent, only 16,105 tourists explored the Annapurna region.
Despite that, the following year, in 2022, there was a remarkable surge, with 129,733 tourists entering and exploring the Annapurna region.
