Himal Press 
This undated photo shows Birendra Lake in the Manaslu Conservation Area in Upper Gorkha. Photo Courtesy: Kamala Shrestha
KATHMANDU: Chum Nubri Rural Municipality of Gorkha has decided to collect entry fees from domestic and foreign tourists visiting the Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA.
In a letter sent to different government agencies, the rural municipality said it would collect a fee of Rs 1,000 from foreign tourists and Rs 200 from domestic tourists as per the Local Government Operation Act, 2017 and its Financial Act.
The letter states that the decision was taken after discussions with local representatives, political parties, tourism entrepreneurs and other stakeholders on September 5.
Manalsu Conservation Area is popular among trekkers from the Tsum and Nubri regions in Upper Gorkha as well as the popular Manaslu Circuit Trail.
So far, the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) under the National Trust for Nature Conservation has been collecting a fee of Rs 1,000 from SAARC nationals and Rs 3,000 from visitors from other countries as per the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973.
The rural municipality has stated in the letter that they decided to collect the entry fee on their own as the trust has not shared the fees with them. “The trekking fees collected by the municipality will be invested in the overall environmental conservation of Chum Nubri and the Manaslu Conservation Area, as well as in promoting tourism,” it added.
Nima Lama, chairperson of Chum Nubri Rural Municipality, told Himal Press the decision will come into implementation very soon. “Manaslu is the eighth-highest mountain in the world and the seventh-highest in Nepal. After Everest, it currently attracts the most climbers,” said Lama. “Therefore, we need to develop more tourism infrastructure here. New routes need to be developed. Managing the accumulating waste at base camp also requires funds. The fee has been set to address all these issues and for development. The money collected will be spent here. It will also add to the rural municipality’s revenue sources.”
