The number of visitors using Lukla’s Tenzing Hillary Airport, a well-liked tourist destination in Solu-Khumbu, has increased by a significant 23 percent.The airline’s Lukla branch reported a 23.84 percent increase in airline usage at Lukla in 2023 when compared to the data from 2022.
According to aviation authority, the statistics indicate that 1,150,151 tourists availed air services in 2022, whereas the number rose to 1,331,274 in 2023, marking an increase of 31,773 individuals. Notably, the majority of those opting for air services are international tourists.
The spike in foreign travelers to the Khumbu region in 2023’s off-season was remarkable in particular. The Everest Region airport, Lukla Airport has grown to be a major travel hub, particularly for foreign visitors who fly into Lukla from Kathmandu as well as Manthali in Ramechhap and then hike uphill.
Due to the absence of a road leading to Lukla, most tourists visiting Khumbu rely on air services. Tourists choose to travel by car to the district’s headquarters via Salleri and Thamdanda, proceeding with a trek to Lukla.
Despite the absence of a road connection to the center of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality among the district’s eight local levels, the road has reached the centers of other local levels.
The Lukla branch revealed that over 928 tons of cargo were transported to Lukla in Solu-Khumbu in the year 2023. The transported materials encompassed food, construction materials, clothing, and more. With Lukla lacking road connectivity, air services have emerged as a dependable means of transporting essential materials to the region. The branch clarified that both planes and helicopters were utilized for the transportation of materials.
