According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Checkpoint at Jomsom, the Mustang area increased in tourism this year. It had 105,698 foreign tourists between January and early October 2024. Most of these visitors, 90,081, were from SAARC countries, with 15,617 from other countries.
SAARC visitors constituted 82.66 percent of the total during this time. In January, the area had the lowest number of visitors with just 2,126. In May the area saw the biggest number of international visitors, with 29,762 travelers.
According to ACAP’s Pramod Raj Regmi, Mustang had fewer tourists from late September to early October. It was due to severe rains, floods, and landslides that disrupted roads. Additionally, 8,397 people arrived through the Besisahar-Manang route on the Round Annapurna Cycle Path. The total accounting with non-SAARC visitors is 97.07 percent.
Mustang welcomed 121,352 international tourists in 2023, with 76.49 percent coming from SAARC countries and 23.51 percent from other countries. Many Indian devotees continue to visit Mustang, particularly the famed Muktinath Temple.
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Image source: Holidify
