Nepal’s Annapurna Conservation Area welcomed a record 508,476 foreign tourists from 169 countries during the last fiscal year, reflecting a strong rebound in international tourism and growing regional travel demand.
The protected area, which spans 7,600 square kilometres across Kaski, Lamjung, Manang, Mustang and Myagdi districts, is Nepal’s largest conservation area and one of the world’s premier trekking destinations. Home to iconic routes such as the Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Base Camp, it also encompasses popular destinations including Mardi Himal, Muktinath, Tilicho Lake, Ghorepani and Upper Mustang.
According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), 384,145 visitors came from South Asian countries, while 124,331 arrived from the rest of the world. Indian tourists accounted for the largest share, with 375,797 visitors, followed by China (12,539), the United States (9,884), the United Kingdom (9,859) and France (7,939).
ACAP Chief Dr Rabin Kadariya said the latest figure was nearly double the 278,113 foreign visitors recorded in the previous fiscal year, setting a new annual record for the conservation area. He attributed the surge largely to a sharp increase in Indian visitors, driven by improved road and air connectivity, the growing popularity of destinations such as Pokhara and Muktinath, and wider exposure through social media.
The rise in arrivals underscores tourism’s continued recovery after the pandemic and reinforces the Annapurna region’s role as one of Nepal’s most important economic and conservation landscapes, where trekking revenue supports local communities while helping finance biodiversity protection.