Women travellers love staying longer in Gandaki Province, which hosts Pokhara, the world-famous Annapurna Circuit, the ancient forbidden kingdom of Mustang, and the gorgeous Manang village, to name a few tourist attractions, compared to men, it has been found.

A special report on the trend of staying and spending of foreign tourists in Gandaki, published by the research unit of the Nepal Rastra Bank’s Pokhara office, shows that female tourists spend an average of 13 days in the province, while male visitors spend 11 days.

Mani Raj Lamichhane, director of the Research, Planning, and Monitoring Department of the Nepal Tourism Board, said many factors draw female travellers to Gandaki, and the kinds of activities they engage in make their stay longer than men’s.

The trekking routes of Annapurna base camp are a huge draw nowadays, especially for female adventure seekers, Lamichhane added. This destination is affordable, safe, short and easy.

There are many tour and hotel operators led by women in Pokhara, which provides a “sense of safety and security” for women trekkers who nowadays go on long treks and enjoy Lake City.

In March, Pokhara, a picturesque city nestled in the lap of the Annapurna mountain range, was officially declared Nepal’s tourism capital.

Businesses such as discos, nightclubs, and live music venues in Pokhara operate 24/7, providing extended opportunities for entertainment and leisure.

Pokhara now has an international airport but has yet to begin commercial operations.

While the average number of days tourists spend in Nepal is 13.2, those coming to this part of western Nepal spend an average of 12 days, according to the survey.

According to the report, tourists on travel packages spend $89.31 a day, while free independent travellers (FITs) pay $54.32 a day.

The average spending of tourists in Gandaki is $62.89 a day.

The report said that 76 percent of the visitors to Gandaki are FITs.

Most of the spending is on food.

Visitors spend 28.22 percent on food, 27.6 percent on accommodation, 21.7 percent on transportation, and 12.3 percent on entertainment.

The central bank’s regional office surveyed six of the 11 districts in the province, covering 400 tourists.

Age-wise, the average staying period of tourists between 31 and 45 is high, as they spend 14 days in the province.

Among the six districts surveyed, Manang has one of the longest stays of 18 days. The shortest stay is in Gorkha district, that is four days.

Most tourists described their stay in the province as positive, with 60 percent saying “highly positive” and 34.75 responding “positive”.

The survey result showed that tourists had a good experience visiting the province.

The survey said 23.11 percent faced problems related to transportation, while 15.34 percent faced payment hassles during travel.

Similarly, 12.31 percent of tourists faced language problems, and 6.44 percent needed more tour information.

According to the report, 53.12 percent of tourists bought tour packages from a Nepali travel company, while 43.88 percent bought them from international travel agencies.

In the study period, tourists from 41 countries visited Gandaki Province. The highest number of travellers came from India, followed by France, the United States, England, and Australia.

The survey found that most foreigners come for adventure activities. Besides, 24.03 percent want entertainment, 16.84 percent are interested in culture, 10.18 percent are pilgrims, 5.79 percent have other purposes, and 2.9 percent do business.

The survey shows that 68 percent of tourists are first-time visitors, while 32 percent are repeat visitors. Some have visited the province as many as 30 times.

The number of tourists travelling alone is 34.75 percent. Similarly, 28 percent of tourists visited with their friends, 22.50 percent with family and 14 percent in groups.