The influx of tourists to Annapurna Base Camp in Myagdi, which began in the last week of Asoj, has not stopped even until the beginning of the second week of Kartik.

In recent days, hotels in Mustang, Myagdi, Baglung and Parbat have been fully booked. Accommodation management has become a challenge for hotel operators. During the long holidays of Dashain, Tihar, Chhath and other festivals, students of schools and colleges, young people, employees of banks and financial institutions, and those who have come from abroad to celebrate festivals have chosen Mustang and Annapurna Base Camp. Tourist sites in those four districts have become the preferred destinations for those traveling by land.

Muktinath in Mustang district has become the first choice destination for domestic tourists. Those who have reached Mustang visit Korala border crossing, Lomanthang Durbar, Chhoser Cave, Chiunsi Cave, Charang Gumba, Marang Gumba, Kagbeni, Dhumbatal and Marfa village. More than eight lakh domestic and more than one and a half lakh foreign tourists visit Mustang every year.

Those interested in an adventurous journey in the hilly and mountainous areas at once in a short period of time have reached the Annapurna Himal Base Camp in Annapurna Rural Municipality-4 of Myagdi. The Annapurna Base Camp, located at an altitude of 4,190 meters, is reached via the Phutphute Waterfall and the blue Panchkund Lake at the foot of Annapurna Himal. It can be reached and returned in three days. The Annapurna Base Camp, located on a flat plain at the foot of the Nilgiri and Annapurna Himal, is also a new destination.

Eight thousand people enter Mustang daily via Myagdi by road, while the number of people going to Annapurna Base Camp daily is more than five hundred. Hotelier Harikrishna Shrestha of Beni said that this time the Annapurna Base Camp and Mustang have received more guests than they had imagined and the capacity of the existing hotels.

'Although there has been a large number of people visiting Muktinath and Upper Mustang during Dashain and Tihar, this time the number of people going to Annapurna Base Camp has increased, so hotels, restaurants and homestays have not been able to cope,' he said. 'The lack of practical implementation of the policy made by the state for the promotion of internal and external tourism has led to a situation where guests who come to enjoy themselves have to struggle for food and accommodation even though they have money in their pockets.'

After the capacity of the hotels was exhausted, the administration, security agencies, hoteliers and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Myagdi and Mustang have requested people to book in advance and have arranged accommodation in hotels, private homes, community buildings and dharamshalas in Kushma, Baglung and Pokhara. The hotels in Myagdi have the capacity to easily manage up to 2,000 guests per day and 3,000 guests per day in Mustang.

According to Raju Hamal, a hotelier from Bhurung-Tatopani, the hotels in Myagdi and Mustang, which connect the Annapurna Base Camp with the Maurice Herzog Trek, have been booked by the end of this week. 'Even though the number of guests has decreased as schools, colleges and offices open after Chhath, the occupancy rate is good,' he said. 'This has brought relief to businessmen who were disappointed by the lack of tourist arrivals immediately after Dashain due to the Genji movement and adverse weather.'

Myagdi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Subin Shrestha said that Mustang and Annapurna Base Camp have become the choice of domestic tourists due to easy access to road transport and publicity. 'Mustang has become a favorite destination for many people as it offers the opportunity to visit Muktinath and Kagbeni, see the mountains, deserted hills, lakes, enjoy the Himalayan life and culture, and reach the Korala border by car,' he said. 'Young people are attracted to the Annapurna Base Camp because they can reach the foothills of the mountains on the journey.'

Chairman Shrestha said that social media content and news published in the media have also helped in promoting the tourist destination. He said that the influx of tourists has inspired hoteliers in Myagdi and Mustang to increase their capacity and facilities, showing the possibility of new investment, and has put pressure on the state to increase the capacity of the limited number of hotels on the Annapurna Base Camp trekking route.

He said that it would be easier to manage if guests who come to visit make advance bookings. Tourists have said that the incomplete road upgrade of the Myagdi section of the Beni-Jomsom road should be completed, the roads in areas affected by landslides and erosion should be made safe, and the service fees should be regularized by classifying hotels.

Tourists going to the Annapurna Base Camp have pointed out the need for repair of the Narchyang-Humkhola road, uniformity in transport fares, increasing the capacity and facilities of hotels along the trekking route, and management of communication and electricity facilities.