ACAP Collects Rs 464.8 Million in Tourist Fees in One Year

Revenue from tourist entry fees in the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) surged last fiscal year, in line with a notable rise in foreign tourist arrivals.

According to ACAP, it collected Rs 464.8 million from foreign visitors in Fiscal Year 2024/25, a 25 percent increase compared to the previous year. Tourist arrivals rose from 222,180 in 2023/24 to 278,113 in 2024/25. Of them, 157,786 were from South Asian countries, while 120,327 came from other parts of the world.

In 2023/24, ACAP had collected Rs 389.5 million in entry fees. Currently, South Asian tourists are charged Rs 1,000 each, while other foreign visitors pay Rs 3,000, said ACAP Chief Dr. Rabin Kadaria.

He added that most of the income generated from entry fees is used for conservation and tourism promotion activities. “The government does not provide a separate budget to ACAP. All office operations, staff management, and annual programs are run through internal income. The budget and programs are implemented through local conservation area management committees,” Dr. Kadaria said, adding that a Rs 380 million budget has been approved for the current fiscal year.

ACAP has been carrying out activities such as trail construction, waste management, small-scale irrigation and drinking water projects, income-generating programs, and conservation education. While revenue from entry fees remains with ACAP, income from natural resources—including medicinal herb collection—is deposited into the state treasury. The government also earns significant revenue from hydropower projects, mountaineering, and restricted area entry fees within the conservation area, he added.

Last fiscal year, Rs 301.7 million was collected from tourists entering restricted areas such as Upper Mustang and Nar Phu Valley of Manang. Entry fees for these areas are collected by the Department of Immigration. Foreign tourists pay $500 to visit Upper Mustang and $1,000 for Nar Phu.

The Annapurna region, renowned for trekking, tourism, sees peak tourist inflows during October–November and March–April, when both trekking and religious visitors arrive in large numbers. Tourist numbers were particularly strong last year compared to 2023/24, when only 172,108 foreigners visited the area.

Although the number of trekkers falls during the monsoon and winter, the region still attracts both domestic and international visitors year-round. While most Indian tourists visiting destinations such as Muktinath prefer road travel, other foreign visitors largely opt for trekking. ACAP records only the data of foreign visitors.

The Annapurna Circuit offers several popular trekking destinations, including Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, Sikles, Lwang, Ghandruk, Tilicho Lake, Thorong La Pass, Upper Mustang, Muktinath, Ghorepani, and Poon Hill. Covering 7,600 square kilometers, the conservation area spans 15 local governments and 87 wards across Kaski, Lamjung, Manang, Myagdi, and Mustang districts. -- RSS