Tourist numbers surge in Mustang

MYAGDI: Mustang district has seen a significant increase in tourist arrivals recently. Popular attractions such as the Muktinath Temple, Kagbeni, Korola Point, Lomanthang, Sinja Jong Cave, Jomsom, Dhumwa Lake, Thini, Marfa, and Lete have reported a surge in visitors.

Pramod Regmi, Chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Jomsom Office, said there has been a notable rise in both domestic and foreign tourists over the past few days. Domestic tourists are arriving by road and air, while an increasing number of international visitors are exploring Thorang La, Upper Mustang, and the Jomsom area.

In the past 15-16 days alone, 20,446 visitors have travelled to Mustang by road, according to Police Inspector Bishal Adhikari from the District Police Office. Since mid-September, the Ghansa-based police checkpoint along the Myagdi-Mustang border has recorded 4,044 vehicles carrying 14,850 domestic and 5,596 foreign tourists.

During the fiscal year 2022/23, Mustang welcomed 318,814 domestic tourists via the Beni-Jomsom road, while the previous fiscal year saw 330,800 international visitors.

Data from the ACAP Jomsom office shows that 7,599 tourists visited the district from mid-July to mid-September, compared to 5,175 during the same period last fiscal year 2023/24.

Last fiscal year, the district welcomed 121,352 foreign tourists, with figures of 71,707 and 38,896 in the two preceding years.

Several factors are contributing to this increased interest in visiting Mustang, including the availability of road transport, tourism promotion at both national and international levels, the influence of social media, quality hospitality services, media coverage highlighting Mustang's appeal, and visits from influential international figures.

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