Tourist presence increases in Mustang

Myagdi, Oct 4: The arrival of tourists from outside has increased of late in Mustang. Touristic areas in the district: the Muktinath Temple, Kagbeni, Korola Point, Lomanthang, Sinja Jong Cave, Jomsom, Dhumwa Lake, Thini, Marfa, and Lete report a surge in people’s movement.

Pramod Regmi, Chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) Jomsom Office, said that there has been a notable rise in both domestic and foreign tourist arrivals over the past few days. Domestic tourists are reaching the area via road and air, while a growing number of international visitors are exploring Thorangla, Upper Mustang, and the vicinity of Jomsom. In the past 15-16 days alone, 20,446 visitors have made footfall in Mustang via road, according to police inspector Bishal Adhikari from the District Police Office.

Since mid-September, the Ghansa-based police checkpoint along the border of Myagdi and Mustang has recorded 4,044 vehicles carrying a total of 14,850 domestic and 5,596 foreign tourists. During the fiscal year 2080-81 BS (2022-23), the district welcomed 318,814 domestic tourists through the Beni-Jomsom road, while the previous fiscal year (2079-80 BS or 2021-22) saw 330,800 international visitors.

According to data from the ACAP Jomsom office, a total of 7,599 tourists visited the district from mid-July to mid-September (Saun and Bhadau months), compared to 5,175 during the same period last fiscal year. Last fiscal year, the district welcomed 121,352 foreign tourists and this figure was 71,707 and 38,896 respectively in the two previous years.

Several factors are contributing to this increased interest in Mustang visit, including the availability of road transport, tourism promotion at both national and international levels, the influence of social media, the presence of quality hospitality services, media coverage highlighting Mustang’s tourist appeal, and visits from influential figures in the international community, it is said. —RSS