MUSTANG: The number of foreign tourists visiting the religious and tourist district of Mustang increased significantly in 2025, registering a rise of more than 18 percent compared to the previous year.
According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) office in Jomsom under the National Trust for Nature Conservation, foreign tourist arrivals grew by 25,403 in 2025 compared to 2024.
ACAP Jomsom Office Chief Rajesh Gupta said that a total of 161,122 foreign tourists visited Mustang between January and December 31, 2025, representing an overall increase of 18.71 percent year-on-year. In 2024, the number of foreign tourists stood at 135,719.
Of the total foreign visitors in 2025, 132,847 were from SAARC countries, while 28,275 came from other nations. In comparison, Mustang received 109,549 tourists from SAARC countries and 26,170 from non-SAARC countries in 2024.
Gupta said this reflects an increase of 23,298 tourists from SAARC countries and 2,105 from other countries during 2025. In percentage terms, arrivals from SAARC countries rose by 18 percent, while those from other countries increased by 7.44 percent.
Tourist inflows, both domestic and foreign, have been rising steadily in the Himalayan district. However, Gupta noted that the overall growth fell short of expectations due to the impact of the Gen-Z movement on September 8 and 9, 2025. Although tourist arrivals were projected to increase by around 30 percent in 2025, lower visitor numbers during September, October, and November constrained overall growth.
According to ACAP data, Mustang received 3,638 fewer foreign tourists in September 2025 compared to the same month in 2024, followed by declines of 854 in October and 70 in November. Gupta added that tourist numbers remained strong from January to August and again toward the end of December.
ACAP further reported that more than 90 percent of tourists from SAARC countries were Indian nationals. Overall, tourists from SAARC countries accounted for 82 percent of total foreign arrivals in Mustang, while visitors from other countries made up the remaining 18 percent.
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