Khumbu region overwhelmed by tourists

SOLUKHUMBU, OCTOBER 9: The Khumbu region in the Solukhumbu district has experienced a surge in tourist arrivals. The Lukla Airport there in the district reported an impressive 200 flights in a single day, indicating a significant influx of visitors for trekking and expeditions to Mount Everest.

According to Umesh Panthi, Chief of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) at Lukla, the airport recorded a total of 298 flights from Kathmandu and Manthali in Ramechhap on Tuesday. Yesterday alone, 1,539 tourists arrived in Khumbu, with 62 flights by aircraft and 139 flights by helicopter. Among these arrivals, 167 domestic and 667 international tourists landed by plane, while 615 arrived by helicopter.

As the tourist season has begun, the number of flights is expected to increase. However, many return flights are nearly empty, as aircraft and helicopters depart from Khumbu with few passengers.

Local tourism entrepreneurs are excited about the increased number of visitors. "We are busy offering hospitality to our guests," said Lamakaji Sherpa from Namche. The trekking season is now in full swing.

Hoteliers in Lukla, Jorsalle, Phakding, Namche, Khumjung, and Tengboche—areas along the Khumbu trekking routes—are actively welcoming guests.

At the Sagarmatha National Park information office in Namche, Manoj Kumar Mandal stated that tourist registration is now mandatory at Jorsalle, the gateway to the Sagarmatha region.

Established in 1976, Sagarmatha National Park spans 1,448 square kilometres and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. It includes Gokyo Lake, which was listed as a Ramsar site in 2007. The park is home to diverse wildlife, including deer, Himalayan blue sheep, wild goats, baboons, monal pheasants, horned larks, and Tibetan snowcock. The population residing within the park exceeds 3,000.