Number of tourists to Mustang increases

MYAGDI, Oct 05: The arrival of tourists has, of late, increased in Mustang.Touristic areas like Muktinath Temple, Kagbeni, Korola Point, Lomanthang, Sinja Jong Cave, Jomsom, Dhumwa Lake, Thini, Marfa and Lete are witnessing a surge in people's movement.

Pramod Regmi, Chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) Jomsom Office, said a notable rise in both domestic and foreign tourist arrivals was seen 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 of the District 

Police Office. Since mid-September, the Ghansa-based police checkpoint along the border of Myagdi and Mustang districts has recorded 4,044 vehicles carrying a total of 14,850 domestic and 5,596 foreign tourists.     

During the fiscal year 2022/23, the district welcomed 318,814 domestic tourists through the Beni-Jomsom road while the previous fiscal year (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, 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.

Meanwhile, the movement of domestic and foreign tourists has increased in Manang district from mid-September. Total 286 tourists entered Manang on last Tuesday, which is the highest number of tourists entered the district so far.

Similarly, 140 tourists visited Manang on Wednesday, said Bhupendra Gurung of Tourism Information Centre, Dharapani. The Nepali month, Asoj, is suitable time for trekking and visiting different places of Nepal. As per the data of Tourist Information Centre, Dharapani, 2,765 tourists from 74 different countries visited Manang in the month of Bhadau (August 17-September 16).

Of them, the highest number of tourists visiting Manang was from Israel (597) followed by Chinese Tourists (327).  Three hundred and twenty-seven Chinese tourists entered Manang in the month of Bhadau. 

Chairperson of Tourism Entrepreneur Committee, Manang, Binod Gurung, said, "Asoj is the appropriate month for trekking. So arrival of tourists visiting the district has increased."

A tourism entrepreneur of Chame rural municipality-5, Usha Lama, shared with the favourable weather, flow of tourists entering the district has surged. 

Increasing number of tourists has made us excited, she underlined.  Tourists visiting Manang in this season used to reach Tilicho Lake. 

The Annapurna Area Conservation Office, Manang, under the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) has urged tourists to plan their trip being cautioned as the weather in Himalayan region remains changeable.