Mustang, a renowned tourist destination, has witnessed a substantial influx of visitors, with over 427,000 tourists arriving within a year. Utilizing the Beni-Jomsom road exclusively, the economic year 2080/81 saw an increase of 47,504 tourists compared to the previous year.
Ghasa Police Station keeps a record of tourists, vehicles, and details within Mustang’s boundaries. Deputy Superintendent Bhojraj Pandey of Mustang District Police Office informed that from Shrawan 2080 to Ashadh 2081, 374,274 tourists, including 318,814 domestic, 99,276 SAARC, and 9,171 tourists from other countries visited Mustang.
In the economic year 2079/80, 62,340 vehicles facilitated 379,767 tourists’ arrival in Mustang. Of them, 303,814 were domestic tourists and 75,967 foreigners.
The availability of road transportation, Annapurna circuit trails through international communication mediums, high-class destination rankings worldwide, promotion, digital marketing, and hotel services are reasons for increasing tourist arrivals, Mukti Nath Temple Priest Krishna Prasad Subedi said.
A large number of foreign tourists in Mustang are from India. Attractions of Mustang include dry mountains, Himalayan drinking water, culture and lifestyle, lakes, Gumbas, Mukti Nath temples, and caves. Mukti Nath, Jomsom, Kagbeni, Lomanthang, Marpha, Tini, Dhumba Tal, etc., are Mustang’s religious and tourist sites.
The number of foreign tourists outside the SAARC has been declining. Bara Gaun Palika Chairperson Rinzen Gurung said, that with the completion of the Beni-Jomsom road construction under the plan of the Kaliwater Road, the tourist arrival is still growing.
