Mustang, a district renowned for its religious and touristic significance, has experienced a substantial rise in foreign tourist arrivals. According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Jomsom office under the National Trust for Nature Conservation, 25,403 more foreign tourists visited Mustang in 2025 compared to 2024.
In total, 161,122 foreign tourists entered Mustang from January 1 to December 31, 2025, an increase of 18.71 percent from 135,719 tourists in 2024, ACAP Jomsom chief Rajesh Gupta reported. Of these visitors, 132,847 came from SAARC countries, while 28,275 were from other nations. In 2024, the figures were 109,549 from SAARC and 26,170 from other countries.
Comparing the two years, 2025 saw an increase of 23,298 tourists from SAARC countries and 2,105 from other nations. This represents a 17.57 percent rise for SAARC visitors and a 7.44 percent increase for tourists from other countries.
While both domestic and foreign tourist numbers have been growing in the Himalayan district, Gupta noted that the expected surge in foreign arrivals was slightly affected by the Janjhi movement on Bhadra 23–24, which caused temporary disruptions. Tourism growth had been projected at around 30 percent for 2025, but fewer visitors arrived during September, October, and November, resulting in lower-than-expected overall growth. Specifically, foreign tourist numbers declined by 3,638 in September, 854 in October, and 70 in November compared to the previous year.
Despite these short-term setbacks, Gupta stated that the number of tourists increased steadily from January through August and again in December 2025.
Indian tourists constituted the majority of visitors. Of the total foreign tourists, 82 percent were from SAARC countries, and 18 percent from other countries. Among the SAARC visitors, more than 90 percent were Indian nationals, highlighting India’s significant contribution to Mustang’s tourism sector.
This article was originally published on https://bajarkochirfar.com. Translated with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
