Tourist Influx in Manang and Mustang

As the month of Ashoj (September/October) begins, both domestic and international tourists have been flocking to Manang and Mustang. Tourism business owners are excited as the daily influx of tourists continues to increase.

On Tuesday alone, 286 tourists entered Manang, the highest number in a single day so far. On Wednesday, 140 tourists entered Manang, according to Bhupendra Gurung, an employee at the Dharpani Tourist Information Center. Ashoj is considered an ideal month for sightseeing and trekking.

According to the data from the Dharpani Tourist Information Center, a total of 2,765 tourists from 74 different countries visited Manang in the previous month of Bhadra (August/September). Among them, the highest number of tourists, 597, were from Israel.

In the same month, Chinese tourists were the second largest group to visit Manang, with 327 visitors. Vinod Gurung, the district president of the Tourism Entrepreneurs Association, said, “This month is suitable for trekking. That’s why there has been an increase in the arrival of tourists.”

Usha Lama, a tourism entrepreneur from Chame, Chame Rural Municipality-5, said that the number of tourists has increased as the weather has become favorable. “This has encouraged us,” she said.

Tourists visiting Manang during this season typically visit Tilicho Lake. As the weather in the high-altitude region is constantly changing, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Manang Area Conservation Office has urged tourists to travel cautiously.

Similarly, there has been an increase in the number of foreign tourists in Mustang too. Tourist destinations such as Muktinath Temple, Kagbeni, Korla Pass, Lo Manthang, Simja Jong Cave, Jomsom, Dhampus Lake, Thini, Marpha, and Lete have seen increased the tourists. Pramod Raj Regmi, the chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) office in Jomsom, said that the number of domestic tourists has increased in recent days, and the arrival of foreign tourists has also increased.

“The increased number of domestic tourists who have come to Mustang via road and air has led to increased activity,” he said. “There has also been an increase in the number of foreign tourists in the Thorong La, Upper Mustang, and Jomsom areas.”

Factors such as improved road connectivity, national and international promotional activities, the impact of social media, the operation of comfortable hotels, the inclusion of Mustang as a must-visit destination in world-renowned travel publications, and visits by influential figures from the foreign community have contributed to Mustang becoming a popular tourist destination.

According to District Police Office Inspector Bishal Adhikari, 20,446 tourists have entered Mustang via road since the beginning of Ashoj 2081. The police post at Ghansa, located at the border of Myagdi, has been keeping records of tourists entering Mustang along with their details. Since the beginning of Ashoj, 14,850 domestic and 5,596 foreign tourists have entered Mustang in 4,044 vehicles.

Last fiscal year 2080/81, a total of 318,814 domestic tourists visited Mustang via road. In the fiscal year 2079/80, the number of domestic tourists visiting Mustang was 303,800. According to ACAP Jomsom, 7,599 tourists visited Mustang in the months of Shrawan (July/August) and Bhadra (August/September) of the current fiscal year. In the same months of the last fiscal year, the number of tourists visiting Mustang was 5,175.

Last fiscal year, 121,352 foreign tourists visited Mustang. In the fiscal year 2079/80, 71,707, and in the fiscal year 2078/79, 38,896 tourists visited Mustang, according to ACAP.

Mustang, with its historical and religious significance, unique geographical features, natural, geographical, cultural, and biological diversity, has been attracting tourists from around the world. The weather, which starts to clear with the onset of autumn, is considered ideal for visiting Mustang.

Chewang Gurung, a hotelier in Lo Manthang, said that the number of tourists in Mustang has started to increase as the rainy season ends. “This season, when the rainy season ends and winter is about to begin, is a suitable time to visit Mustang in terms of climate and environment,” he said. “Compared to other times, more tourists come here in Ashoj and Kartik (September-November).”

There are more domestic tourists than foreign tourists. With the long holiday of the festivals starting, groups from mothers’ groups, forest groups, clubs, cooperatives, and educational institutions have also come for a visit. Foreigners have to pay a fee of $500 for 10 days to visit the semi-restricted area of Upper Mustang from Kagbeni to Korala Pass.

For a visit to the ACAP area, which includes the districts of Lamjung, Kaski, Manang, Mustang, and Myagdi in Gandaki Province, SAARC country tourists are charged Rs. 1,000 per person and third country tourists are charged Rs. 3,000 per person. – RSS