Kathmandu: Revenue collection by different national parks and conservation areas increased by nearly 58 percent in Fiscal Year 2016/17 compared to data of the previous fiscal year.
According to data provided by the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), revenue collection increased to Rs 552.7 million in FY2016/17 compared to Rs 350 million in the previous fiscal year.
The data excludes revenue collection by conservation areas like Annapurna Conservation Area and Manaslu Conservation Area which are managed by National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC).
Annapurna Conservation Area alone collected revenue of Rs 237.3 million in FY2016/17.
Chitwan National Park (CNP) topped the list of protected areas in terms of revenue mobilization, while Krishnasar Conservation Area collected the lowest revenue, according to the data. While CNP collected Rs 201.5 million in FY 2016/17, Krishnasar Conservation Area collected mere Rs 70,650 only.
Similarly, Sagarmatha National Park is in the second position in terms of revenue mobilization with total collection of Rs 116.5 million, while Langtang national Park (Rs 33.1 million) is at the third position. Likewise, Bardiya National Park, Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Api Nampa Conservation Area and Shey Phoksundo National Park collected Rs 31.8 million, Rs 24.5 million, Rs 23.5 million, Rs 20.3 million and Rs 19.4 million, respectively.
According to the data Banke National Park, Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Makalu Barun National Park, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Rara National Park and Kanchanjunga Conservation Area collected Rs 6.4 million, Rs 6.3 million, Rs 4.3 million, Rs 3.1 million, Rs 1.5 million and Rs one million, respectively. Revenue collection by Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve and Khaptad National Park was Rs 695,041 and Rs 549,715, respectively.
Besides revenue from entrance fee levied on tourists, DNPWC mobilized a total of Rs 57.4 million from activities like filming fee, helicopter landing, stone and sand mining and other wildlife activities.
Talking to Republica Kedar Nath Katel, assistant monitoring and evaluation officer of DNPWC, said that revenue mobilization in FY2016/17 is the highest since FY2011/12. “Increased movement of tourists to protected areas one of the reasons behind healthy rise in revenue of national parks and conservation areas,” he added.
“Movement of domestic tourists in national parks and conservation areas is increasing at a healthy rate. This has also contributed to impressive growth in revenue mobilization by protected areas.”
According to Katel, DNPWC maintains data of tourist arrival and revenue mobilization of 17 protected areas only.
Republica
February 5, 2018
