CHITWAN: Tourist visits to Chitwan National Park have increased compared to last year according to park officials.

In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year a total of 168,695 visitors entered the park and its surrounding buffer zone community forests. This is an increase of 12,412 visitors from the same period last year, when 156,283 people visited.

Officials say domestic tourism has seen a strong rise. By the end of February 104,096 Nepali visitors had toured the park up from 81,246 last year.

However, the number of visitors from neighboring SAARC countries and other international tourists has slightly declined. This year 9,544 visitors came from SAARC nations and 55,055 from other countries, compared to 14,207 and 60,830 respectively last year.

Chitwan National Park is known for its rich wildlife, including one horned rhinos, Bengal tigers, elephants, deer and gharial crocodiles which continue to attract visitors.

The park has also generated significant income. So far this fiscal year it has collected over 175 million Nepali rupees in revenue, mainly from tourism activities. Additional income came from the sale of forest products, fines and other sources.