नेपाली
Kaberi Poudel
Published: September 20, 2026
Domestic and SAARC tourist numbers decline as road disruptions along the Kaligandaki Corridor affect travel to the district
Tourist arrivals in Mustang dropped sharply in Bhadra as flood damage and road disruptions affected travel along the Kaligandaki Corridor, according to police data.
A total of 31,989 tourists visited Mustang between August 17 and September 16, down from 61,263 visitors in Shrawan. The decline comes amid continued disruption caused by floods, river erosion and road blockages in parts of the region.
Of the total visitors recorded during Bhadra, 16,503 were domestic tourists, while 15,138 came from SAARC countries and 348 were from other countries.
Domestic tourist arrivals declined by 46.16 percent compared with the previous period, while arrivals from SAARC countries fell by 52.05 percent.
However, tourist arrivals from outside the SAARC region increased. The number rose to 348 in Bhadra, compared with 193 during the same period last year.
Mustang has recorded 93,252 tourist arrivals so far this year. The figure includes 47,158 domestic tourists, 46,713 SAARC visitors and 441 tourists from other countries.
The latest decline highlights the impact of road connectivity on tourism in Mustang, where several routes have remained vulnerable to flooding, erosion and landslides.
With road access gradually being restored in affected areas, tourism stakeholders are now watching whether visitor numbers will recover in the coming months.
Source Reference: The Himalayan Times
