KATHMANDU: With Nepal Tourism Year 2011 just five months away, locals of Upper Mustang have threatened to bar foreign tourists from entering the region from October 1. Upper Mustang Youth Society Chairman Lopsang Chhomphel Bista alias Raju said the society was compelled to take the step, as the government had been ignoring their demand to allocate at least 60 per cent royalty collected from the tourists to the region. Upper Mustang includes seven VDCs. Bista apologised to the tourists on behalf of UMYS for the inconvenience caused.
The home and tourism ministries, as well as central tourism bodies, have been informed about the UMYS decision. Mustang Local Development Officer Mani Kumar Gyawali told this correspondent that more than 7,000 residents of Upper Mustang region had been raising the issue for long. “Mustang District Development Committee has informed the Immigration Department about UMYS decision,” Gyawali told this daily. He added that recent district development council meeting had endorsed locals’ demand.
Till 2007, approximately $ 78,07,100 had been collected from tourists who visited Upper Mustang. In 2008 and 2009, the government collected $ 14,16,000 from Upper Mustang visitors. LDO Gyawali said the government allocated only 30 per cent of the royalty to DDC, which distributed it among 16 VDCs of the district. Locals say the government did not abide by its 1992 decision to allocate 60 per cent of the royalty to the region.
First vice president of Trekking Agents’ Association of Nepal Bachhu Narayan Shrestha said Upper Mustang tourism was one of the major attractions of NTY that aims to attract one million tourists. He appealed to the government and UMYS to iron out differences through dialogue as early as possible. Annapurna Conservation Area Project representatives in Upper Mustang and Jomsom told THT that the concerned authorities should resolve the issue to save the tourism potential in the region. Nesting on the Tibetan border, Upper Mustang, which presents a vibrant mosaic of earth colours — reds, yellows, browns and blues — is dominated by giant Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massif. Tourists visiting the area need a 500-dollar special permit for 10 days, with $ 50 per additional day.
As many as 768 foreigners entered Upper Mustang in 1993, 777 in 1994, 840 in 1995, 883 in 1996, 753 in 1997, 789 in 1998, 1027 in 1999, 1069 in 2000, 922 in 2001, 563 in 2002, 572 in 2003, 825 in 2004, 661 in 2005, 248 in 2006, 1,282 in 2007, 2,194 in 2008 and 1,762 in 2009.The Mustang region has also seen frequent visits by chiefs of the diplomatic missions in recent days. Upper Mustang area was forbidden to foreigners until November 1992
