Mustang, April 15
A total of 4,136 foreign tourists visited Mustang in 2081 BS. According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Lomanthang, during the reporting period, 230 tourists from SAARC countries and 3,96 foreign tourists from other countries visited the area.
According to the ACAP office chief, Umesh Poudel, tourists from 72 countries have visited Upper Mustang in a year. The highest number of 734 tourists turned up here in the month of Ashwin while the lowest number of 30 tourists visited in Magh.
In the previous year, 2080 BS, a total of 3,613 foreigners visited Upper Mustang. During the period, 52 visitors from SAARC countries and 3,561 from other countries traveled here. Paudel informed there has been an increase of 513 tourists, or 12.64 per cent, in 2081 BS compared to 2080 BS.
Easy road access has led to an increase in tourist arrivals in Upper Mustang, he mentioned. Only about four per cent of the total foreign tourists entering Mustang District reach Upper Mustang, he shared. Over Rs 270 million has been collected as revenue from tourist royalty fees, totaling Rs 272.9 million last year from Upper Mustang.
The Upper Mustang, which borders China, has been designated by the government as a prohibited and controlled area. Due to the potential for unwanted activities in the border area, the government has classified this region as prohibited and controlled. For this reason, only a limited number of tourists have been able to reach the Upper Mustang.
