Dhruba Sagar Sharma/RSS    
March 31: The inflow of domestic and external tourists has increased in Mustang, considered to be one of the two districts beyond the mountains, with the fear of coronanvirus infection receding of late.    
Tourism entrepreneurs are delighted at the moment to welcome around 3,000 tourists entering Mustang and Lo-Manthang through land and air routes on a daily basis.

Sources at Jomsom Airport said around 15 flights are taking place a day now in Mustang – the centre of attraction for domestic and external tourists. Likewise, there seems a long queue of vehicles transport means along the Beni-Jomsom road leading to Muktinath and Lo-Manthang.    
Tourism entrepreneurs said arrival of tourists has increased significantly in Mustang which saw almost zero arrival of tourists for almost two years during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic.    
This is the prime season for tourists and their number has been increasing thanks to the decline in Covid-19 infection and the rise in vaccination drive.

With the festival of Chaite Dashain just around the corner, a huge number of people is expected to offer homage to their ancestors at Kaagbeni of Mustang district.
Devlal Poudel, a local of Gaindakot Municipality-12, Harkapur said, "I found Mustang much more captivating than expected. It was difficult to get hotel room due to huge number of tourists."    
Likewise, Nepalis residing in different countries are also returning home with the advent of cultural fair at Lo-Manthang in upper Mustang.    
Chief of Jomsom Airport Puskal Raj Sharma informed that 15 flights are taking place daily after Mustang-Pokhara air service resumed since March 6. Each flight has a capacity of 18 passengers. With this, daily 250 plus people are entering Mustang via air route, he informed.    
Lately over 2,000 tourists are daily entering Mustang on tourist buses, jeeps and motorbike via the land route, the district police office sources said.    
Hotel entrepreneurs said that the tourism industry which was almost nil is now revitalizing with the rise in the arrival of tourists.