Hotel entrepreneurs upgrade ghorepani-poonhil trek route

Baglung / November 15: Hotel and tourism entrepreneurs of Ghorepani have come together to upgrade the popular trekking route of Ghorepani-Poonhil.

In the past three years, more than Rs. 7 million has been spent in improving the condition of the trekking route, according to Ghorepani Hotel Management Committee. Last year, the committee had received Rs. 500,000 from the District Development Committee, and the remaining was contributed by the entrepreneurs.

The upgrading work was carried out in the 700 meters of Ghorepani-Poonhil route, 400 meters of Ghorepani-Shikha route and 200 meters of Ghorepani-Tikhedhunga route, said chairperson of the Committee Junu Pun. Work is still underway in the three kilometer Ghorepani-Ghandruk route.

The committee has been collecting funds including annual tax raised by the hotel, tourist tax and donations.

The Ghorepani region receives some 30,000 tourists every year. There are 22 well-equipped hotels in Ghorepani with an investment of more than Rs. 5 million. Ghorepani was opened to tourists in 1970.

This is the peak season for tourists but this year there are only negligible number of tourists following the massive earthquake of April and blockade created by India after the promulgation of the new constitution. Although most of the touristic destinations are safe tourists hesitate to come with the fear. Nepali tourism entrepreneurs have launched various campaigns to revive the tourism industry but Indian blockade gave another blow to the ailing tourism industry. RSS