Shey-Phoksundo: The country’s deepest lake, also known as the blue diamond, continues to attract domestic and foreign tourists despite constant fall in temperature here. Chief Conservation Officer at Shey-Phoksundo National Park, Nurendra Aryal, informed that a total of 1,632 tourists, both domestic and foreign, visited the Phoksundo Lake area between mid-July and mid-October.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the number of domestic tourists visiting the panoramic lake is higher in comparison to the foreign tourists. In the last five months, 326 tourists from SAARC and other countries visited Shey-Phoksundo, generating revenue of Rs 1.053 million, Aryal stated. Additionally, revenue of Rs 6.57 million has been collected from the sale of forest produce, eco-tourism, and charges since the beginning of the current fiscal year till October.
Laxman Devkota, a local of Tripurasundari Municipality-1, said the number of domestic tourists has been increasing in the last few years as Dolpa is a place of beauti
ful religious and tourist destinations like Phoksundo Lake, Tripurasundari Temple, She-Gumba, and Dho Tarap. He suggested that the number of tourists would increase significantly if Nepalgunj-Dolpa flights are regularized, the Bheri corridor is improved, and hotel accommodations are properly arranged.
According to hoteliers of Dunai, the district headquarters, Dolpa will benefit more from domestic tourists rather than foreigners in terms of trade and business promotion. Most tourists travel to the area on motorcycles, as they can easily reach Dunai by motorcycle and other vehicles via the Nepalgunj-Surkhet-Jajarkot-Rukum route.