SOLUKHUMBU, Dec 23: The Khumbu Pasang Lamhu rural municipality has collected Rs. 40 million from tourists entering Khumbu region. The rural municipality has started to collect entry fee of Rs. 2,000 per person from October 1. From October 1, 22,358 tourists have arrived in the region, Lakpa Tshring Sherpa, spokesperson of the rural municipality said.
Godepani welcomes over 31,000 foreign tourists in a year
With reference to entry fee registration, it was found that 100 tourists enter the Khumbu region every day. The rural municipality had come with the move despite protest from business houses. The entry fee has also made the Team Card, jointly implemented by the Department of Tourism and TAAN.
Earlier tourists were paying Rs. 2,000 for Team Card at Manjo. Despite generating huge amount in entry fee, little was spent to develop Khumbu region. “As the constitution allows local level to formulate favorable initiatives to generate revenues, we have started the same,” Nim Dorje Sherpa, chair of the rural municipality said adding that they’d use the amount to develop amenities for the tourist, including maintaining road from Lukla and Nache Bazzar to Khumbu, which, at present is perilous. “We’ve prepared a budget for the fiscal year. Now, we will hold a meeting for approval,” spokesperson Sherpa said.
