Chitwan National Park sees more tourists but less revenue

The number of tourists visiting Chitwan National Park has risen by 41,594 compared to the previous fiscal year. In FY 2025/26, 272,923 tourists visited the park, up from 231,329 in 2024/25.

According to the park office, last fiscal year’s visitors included 161,375 Nepalis, 22,883 tourists from SAARC countries, and 88,665 from other countries.

The number of Nepali tourists rose significantly compared to the previous fiscal year; 117,206 Nepali tourists had visited the park in FY 2024/25, along with 24,800 from SAARC countries and 89,323 from other countries during that period.

While the number of Nepali tourists rose by 44,169 last year, the number of tourists from SAARC and other countries actually declined slightly.

According to the park, the highest number of visitors, 32,252, arrived in the month of October/November, while the lowest, 7,073, came in July/August. Tourist numbers typically remain high from Sepember/October through May/June. Although in the past visitor numbers tended to drop after March/April, the park noted that last year the increase continued through May/June.

According to park information officer Abinash Thapa Magar, the largest numbers of Nepali tourists arrived in October/November (19,109) and April/May(18,046). SAARC tourists came in greatest numbers in May/June(5,863), while tourists from other countries peaked in October/November (10,326) and February/March (11,809).

The highest number of tourists in the park’s history came in FY 2023/24, when 306,837 tourists visited and the park collected revenue of Rs 36,72,92,807. In FY 2022/23, 299,412 tourists visited the park.

According to the last 10 years’ data, the fewest tourists, 87,39, came in FY 2015/16. During FY 2020/21, when the Covid-19 pandemic was having an impact, 98,228 tourists visited the park.

Tourists up, but revenue down

Even though tourist numbers rose, the park’s revenue declined.

According to information officer Thapamagar, the park collected Rs 31,01,64,551 in revenue in FY 2025/26, down from Rs 33,86,00,000 collected in FY 2024/25.

He said the decline in revenue was due to the drop in the number of foreign tourists, adding that the Gen-Z movement and the Iran-US conflict kept foreign tourist arrivals below expectations, which directly affected Chitwan National Park as well.

The park’s entry fee is set at Rs 150 per person for Nepalis, Rs 1,000 for SAARC nationals, and Rs 2,000 for other foreign tourists. A fee of Rs 5,000 applies for jeeps entering the park.

The park has six entry points for tourists, of which the Sauraha gate sees the highest number of visitors; 237,025 tourists entered through Sauraha alone last fiscal year.

Chitwan National Park is known for its rare one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tigers, bears, elephants, spotted deer, gharial crocodiles, and various species of birds, plants and reptiles. Tourists here observe wildlife through jeep safaris and jungle walks.

Every year, jeep safaris are suspended from the third week of the first week of July to the third week of September due to the monsoon.

Areas including Sauraha, Meghauli, Patihani, Madi, Devghat and Siraichuli in Chitwan district are the main attractions for domestic and foreign tourists.

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