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The number of trekkers visiting the Annapurna Conservation Area has bounced back and reached the pre-covid levels.

A total of 172,108 trekkers visited the area in the fiscal year 2022/23, according to Rabin Kadariya, the information officer of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). This figure comes close to the pre-covod record of 183,357 trekkers in 2018/19. This is the highest footfall the area has seen so far

After the outbreak, however, trekker numbers dropped to 104,165 trekkers in 2019/20 and a meager 4,916 in 2020/21 during the peak of the pandemic. However, there was a positive resurgence, with numbers picking up to 75,824 in 2021/22. In the fiscal year 2022/23, ACAP generated Rs 299.43m (including VAT) from permit fees.

As only the ACAP and Pokhara International Airport records the number of tourists visiting Pokhara, the exact number of foreign tourists visiting Gandaki Province is not precisely known. The provincial tourism ministry had initiated the registration of foreign tourists two years before the covid pandemic, but it has been discontinued now.

With the commencement of construction on Pokhara International Airport, tourism entrepreneurs have made substantial investments in various tourism infrastructures such as hotels, restaurants, and several adventure activities. The hotel industry alone received investments of over Rs 100bn in the past five years, according to Laxman Subedi, president of Pashchimanchal Hotel Song Pokhara, the industry lobby representing hotels operating in Pokhara and its surrounding areas.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 300 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow bullion is being traded at Rs 112, 000 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 112, 300 per tola on Sunday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 111, 450 per tola. It was traded at Rs 111, 750.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,460 per tola today.

Number of tourists visiting Mustang has increased by 45 percent.

According to the Area Conservation office, Jomsom of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), tourists' arrival in Mustang has increased by 45.75 percent in the fiscal year 2079/80 in comparison to the previous fiscal year, 2078/79 BS.

ACAP Jomsom In-charge Ashok Subedi said a total of 71,707 foreign tourists had entered Mustang in the fiscal 2079/80 BS.

"The data shows immoderate rise in the inflow of tourists before and after COVID-19", he said, adding, "Total 38,896 tourists had entered Mustang in the year 2078/79 BS.

Compared to the previous fiscal year, over 32,811 tourists had visited Mustang in FY 2079/80.

In the FY 2079/80, as many as 59,310 tourists arrived here from SAARC member countries and 6,749 tourists from the third countries.

Likewise, in FY 2079/80, a total of 3,388 tourists visited Upper Mustang which is the semi-prohibited area.

Influx of tourists has increased in Mustang last year owing to favorable weather, easy road access, hotel/lodge facilities and nominal incidents of natural disasters.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 63.24 points to close at 2,227.16 points on Sunday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 14.41 points to close at 424. 93 points.

A total of 12,002,308-unit shares of 266 companies were traded for Rs 4. 37 billion.

Meanwhile, Kisan Lagubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited and Chandragiri Hills Limited were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, NIBL Growth Fund was the top loser as its price fell by 10.00 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 27 trillion.