Tourism Info Nepal

Over 173,000 Tourists Visited Mustang in Two Months

Over 173,000 Tourists Visited Mustang in Two Months

In the past two months, a total of 173,000 tourists visited Mustang, according to the District Police Office. The month of Ashwin (September) saw 144,155 domestic and 28,976 international visitors. This figure increased significantly in Kartik (October), with 113,300 tourists arriving, the majority of whom were on domestic and international trips.

Inspector Bishal Adhikari, spokesperson for the District Police Office, reported that 59,831 visitors entered Mustang in Ashwin, while Kartik witnessed a rise with 113,300 tourists arriving by both air and land routes.

The police maintain records of tourist arrivals at the Ghamsa road checkpoint and the Jomsom airport, both of which track the flow of visitors arriving via different means. In Ashwin, 57,982 tourists entered via the Beni-Jomsom road, while 1,849 flew in via the Pokhara-Jomsom air route. In Kartik, 111,655 tourists came by road and 1,645 by air.

During major festivals like Dashain and Tihar, the number of visitors to Mustang increases significantly, making Ashwin and Kartik peak months for tourism in the region.

Hotel owners in Mustang reported that tourists typically spend a minimum of NPR 15,000 each during their visit. Based on this, it is estimated that the economic turnover from tourists in Ashwin and Kartik reached approximately NPR 2.59 billion (259.69 million). Mohan Singh Lalchan, the chairperson of the Gharpajhong Village Municipality, provided this estimate.

With 325 hotels in Mustang, the region can accommodate around 7,000 tourists per day, according to Prem Prasad Poudel, Chief of the Tourism and Industry Office in Mustang. During the Dashain and Tihar festivals, most hotels in Mustang were fully booked. However, since the onset of winter in Mangsir (November), there has been a slight decrease in the arrival of tourists.

In the fiscal year 2080/81, Mustang attracted 427,000 tourists, while 379,767 visited in the previous year (2079/80).

Tourist arrivals have surged due to better transportation infrastructure, the inclusion of the Annapurna Circuit in the list of the world’s top 10 destinations by global media, increased promotional efforts, digital marketing, and the establishment of well-equipped hotels, said Pramodraj Regmi, Chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project’s Jomsom office.

Among international tourists, the majority are from India. Mustang’s allure lies in its barren mountains, unique Himalayan climate, rich culture, religious sites, and scenic beauty. Key attractions include Muktinath Temple, Jomsom, Kagbeni, Lo Manthang, Marpha, and Dumba Lake, making it a prominent destination for both religious and leisure tourism.

Tourists reach Mustang via the road from Magdi, the Thorong La Pass on foot, or by air from Pokhara. However, with a decline in the number of tourists from countries outside the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region, local business owners have expressed concerns.

Lalchan also mentioned that once the ongoing upgrading of the Beni-Jomsom road is completed, which includes the construction of a blacktopped road, tourist arrivals are expected to rise even further, providing a boost to the local economy.

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