Himal Press 
Photo: RSS
KATHMANDU: Protected areas in the country are not only preserving Nepal’s fragile environment, flora and fauna, but also contributing to tourism.
Nearly 60% of foreign tourists visiting Nepal travel to the country’s national parks, wildlife reserves and conservation areas, according to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC).
According to the DNPWC, a total of 1,097,836 domestic and foreign tourists visited different protected areas in the country during the fiscal year 2024/25. Of the total visitors, 511,762 were foreign tourists, while 586,074 were Nepali visitors, according to the DNPWC Director General Dr Buddhi Sagar Poudel.
The protected areas generated Rs 1.05 billion in revenue from visitor entry fees during the fiscal year.
Data for the fiscal year show that the highest number of visitors entered Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park—the only national park in the federal capital Kathmandu—which received 346,644 tourists. Annapurna Conservation Area was next with 278,113 visitors, while Chitwan National Park came third with 249,956 visitors.
In contrast, Api Nampa Conservation Area in Sudurpashchim recorded the lowest number of visitors, with only 229 tourists entering the area during the review period.
Nepal is home to 13 national parks: Chitwan National Park, Bardiya National Park, Langtang National Park, Rara National Park, Banke National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Shey-Phoksundo National Park, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Makalu Barun National Park, Khaptad National Park, Shuklaphanta National Park, Parsa National Park, Rara National Park and Chhayanath National Park.
Similarly, there are six conservation areas: Krishnasar Conservation Area, Api Nampa Conservation Area, Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, Manaslu Conservation Area, Gaurishankar Conservation Area and Annapurna Conservation Area, as well as the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
Protected areas in the Himalayan region are popular for trekking, mountaineering and other activities, while those in the southern region are known for jungle safari.
According to the DNPWC, protected areas cover 23.39% of Nepal’s total land area and play an important role in conserving biodiversity while supporting tourism and local livelihoods.
