Tourist flow to eastern hills rises

With the beginning of the new tourist season, the inflow of tourists to the eastern hills has increased. The number of tourists heading towards Kumbhakarna, Makalu, and Kanchanjunga mountain base camps has increased significantly in recent days, thanks to the improvement in weather after the rainy season. Compared to the previous year, tourist arrival here had delayed for the long rainy season. Bansatapur, which is the main route to the Kumbhakarna, Makalu, and Kanchanjunga base camps started to witness the entry of foreign and domestic tourists from last week. With this, the local tourism business has also boomed. Hotels and guest houses of Mudeshanischare, Chauki, Mangalbare and Gufabazaar are crowed, while all big hotels are packed. “Arrival of foreign tourists too is growing,” said Pemba Bhotia, proprietor of Yak Hotel. Foreign tourists are coming from countries like Germany, Nigeria, Norway, UK, USA, India, Portugal and Australia. Similarly, domestic tourists come from places like Ilam, Jhapa, Kathmandu, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Butwal, Biratnagar and Dharan. Nepal Tourism Board has included this area as one of the top five tourist destinations of the country. It is famous for having 28 types of rhododendron flower. The area is witnessing a growth in the number of visitors for the last two years. It has emerged a destination for educational tour, observation tour to farmers for agriculture and animal husbandry, and biodiversity and rhododendron study. “We are seeing the arrival of foreigners every day,” said Prakash Shrestha, member of the Tourism Development and Promotion Committee, Terhathum. He said with the number of tourists increasing, there is a need for developing infrastructure by local tourism entrepreneurs to hold tourists for a longer time. After the availability facilities such as electricity, telephone, internet and drinking water, tourists have started to visit even remote villages. According to Govinda Dhungana of the committee, 28 types of rhododendron, Gupha Pokhari, Tinjure Hill, rear bids and culture of communities like Yakkha, Tamang, Magar, Newar, Gurung, Sherpa, Newar and Limbu are among the major attraction of the place. The area is witnessing a growth in the number of visitors for the last two years