February 15: The tourism business is gradually coming to its pre-COVID-19 status in the Kanchanjungha area with the increased number of tourist arrivals in the recent months.

A total of 439 tourists from different countries visited the area in the past four months. With the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism activities in the region had remained almost nil in the region.

Secretary at Kanchanjungha Conservation and Management Council Office Man Kumar Limbu said that the tourism entrepreneurs are excited after the increased number of visitors in the recent months.

 Currently, the area is home to more than 50 hotels including big and small in the Kanchanjugha trekking route. Singi Namjong Hotel established with the investment of over Rs 70 million is offering services from Gyalpa village of Phaktanglung Rural Municipality-6, while four other hotels having more than Rs 10 million investment each are in operation.

A Hotelier Pema Sherpa from Ghunsa said the arrival of tourists has made the entrepreneurs hopeful of their business, though the pandemic time was disappointing for them.

Two trekking routes are used to reach the Kanchanjugha base camp. The visitors can reach the base camp through the Sirijungha Rural Municipality in Taplejung district through Ganesh Chowk of Panchthar district to climb Mt Kanchanjugha, the third tallest peak in the world.

Likewise, the Kanchajungha base camp could also be reached by using the trail along the Phaktanglung Rural Municipality after landing at Suketar Airport in Taplejung district. ---RSS