MUSTANG: A total of 325,558 tourists visited Mustang during the first seven months of the current fiscal year, according to the District Police Office.
Of the total visitors recorded between mid-July and mid-January, 69,814 were foreign nationals and 255,744 were domestic tourists.
Police data show that 19,781 tourists entered Mustang in July, 23,205 in August, 75,599 in September, 83,766 in October , 49,500 in November, 39,153 in December, and 32,04 in January via the nationally recognized Beni–Jomsom road.
During the same period last fiscal year, 340,729 domestic and foreign tourists had visited Mustang. Compared to last year, tourist arrivals decreased by 18,171 visitors, or 5.33 percent, during the corresponding period.
Police Inspector Nawaraj Neupane of the District Police Office said that records are maintained for tourists entering Mustang by road through Ghansa, located at the Myagdi–Mustang border. Data are also collected by police units for visitors arriving via the Pokhara–Jomsom air service and those trekking into Mustang through the Thorong La Pass from Manang.
According to district police statistics, 454,326 domestic and foreign tourists visited Mustang in fiscal year 2080/81 BS, while the number increased to 755,779 in fiscal year 2081/82 BS.
Tourist arrivals in Mustang have generally been rising in recent years, particularly as travel has become easier with ongoing improvements to the national pride Beni–Jomsom–Korala road.
Among SAARC visitors, Indian tourists make up the majority, primarily visiting Muktinath before returning. Other foreign tourists typically enter Mustang via the Beni–Jomsom road or through Manang via the Thorong La Pass.
The number of domestic pilgrims traveling to Kagbeni Dham to perform ‘Shraddha’ rituals for their ancestors and to visit the Muktinath Temple has also been increasing. About three percent of foreign visitors travel to Upper Mustang. Meanwhile, recent upgrades to the Jomsom–Korala road have enabled a growing number of domestic tourists to reach Korala.
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