Belying expectations that the construction of motor roads in Manang would undermine tourism, arrivals in the trans-Himalayan district swelled 9 percent in 2013.

According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (Acap), the district received 21,207 tourists in 2013 or 1,708 more compared to 2012. Among them, 4,452 completed the Annapurna Circuit trek and made an exit from Manang, said Sudip Adhikari, chief of the project.

“We were worried that motor roads in Manang would harm its traditional and natural appeal, however, that did not happe,” said Makala Gurung, a local hotel entrepreneur “Instead, the district has been witnessing an increase in the number of domestic touris.”

According to hoteliers, big hotels have daily turnovers of Rs 500,000. Last year, motorable roads were built from Besisahar, the headquarters of Lamjung, to Chame, the district headquarters of Manang. As a result, the eight-day walking route was slashed to three days. 

The Manang valley, which lies close to the Nepal-China border, offers tremendous tourism opportunities due to its rich natural flora and fauna. There are around 200 hotels in the district. Although tourist numbers have increased, their length of stay has shortened.

“We have been working to develop alternative trekking routes in a bid to prolong visitor stay,” said Lal Prasad Gurung, regional director of the project.