Mustang tourism: 230,000 visitors in eight months

POKHARA, March 15: Over the past eight months, about 230,000 visitors have flocked to the mountainous district of Mustang. Among them, 187,014 were domestic tourists, 35,356 were from SAARC countries, and 7,284 were from third countries, as per the statistics maintained by the police.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bhojraj Pandey, police chief of Mustang, during the period from mid-July 2023 to mid-March 2024, a total of 229,654 guests visited Mustang. DSP Pandey said there has been a surge in domestic tourists recently.

According to police data, the number of visitors to Mustang during different months are - 6,837 in Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August), 7,101 in Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September), 25,586 in Ashoj (mid-September to mid-October), 62,978 in Kartik (mid-October to mid-November), 38,992 in Mangsir (mid-November to mid-December), 13,545 in Poush (mid-December to mid-January), 6,785 in Magh (mid-January to mid-February), and 25,190 in Falgun (mid-February to mid-March).

Similarly, arrivals from SAARC countries during the same period include 2,319 in Shrawan, 3,206 in Bhadra, 5,963 in Ashoj, 13,078 in Kartik, 2,062 in Mangsir, 3,964 in Poush, 732 in Magh, and 4,032 in Falgun.

For third-country visitors, the numbers are as follows: 446 in Shrawan, 418 in Bhadra, 1,743 in Ashoj, 2,267 in Kartik, 275 in Mangsir, 450 in Poush, 345 in Magh, and 1,340 in Falgun.

"We have been meticulously recording passenger details at the checkpoint. The influx of domestic guests has notably surged," he said. "The tourism sector in Mustang has experienced a surge in activity owing to the influx of visitors over the past eight months."

DSP Pandey mentioned that arrivals by air and via the Thorong La Pass route from Manang were not included in these figures. Additionally, long-term workers and locals' relatives were not accounted for. He said that the police only kept statistics of tourists entering through Ghansa.

DSP Pandey said that the number of domestic tourists is high during the peak seasons and holidays. According to him, the police record details of all types of vehicles and passengers entering the district at the Mustang entry point.

He said that since it is a mountainous district, there will be a lot of domestic guests in Mustang during the Dashain and Tihar festival. This year, the highest number of domestic guests visited Mustang in Kartik. "The tourist season has resumed, and we're still seeing a rise in domestic arrivals," he added. He also mentioned that the well-maintained roads, sufficient transportation options, the compact size, and the accessibility of private vehicles have all contributed to making travel to Mustang more convenient.

The majority of guests from SAARC countries are Indian religious pilgrims, particularly those visiting Muktinath. DSP Pandey said that the presence of Indian religious tourists has significantly boosted the number of SAARC country guests in Mustang. He noted that the influx of Indian pilgrims to Mustang has also surged during this period.

Pramod Regmi, the Jomsom Conservation Officer of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), added that Mustang tourism remains active year-round due to domestic guests. He further emphasized that significant crowds of domestic tourists flock to Mustang during festivals, public holidays, and peak seasons.

"Even during the season, more domestic guests come. A large number of domestic guests come in during the Dashain-Tihar festivals," said Regmi. "When there is a long holiday, the number of domestic guests increases."

Regmi said that the influx of domestic tourists has caused challenges in securing hotel accommodations in the Himalayan district of Mustang. He revealed that during the recent Shivratri holiday, there was a shortage of rooms for domestic guests.

Regmi said that lately, there have been tours organized by various educational institutions, mothers' groups, and clubs. Mustang has become a destination for people of all ages. “While the younger generation comes to enjoy themselves, the elderly visit Mustang for its religious significance. Mustang is also attracting foreign guests as a popular destination,” Regmi said.