A global trend is coming towards exclusive, sustainable and luxury trekking experiences. Travelers want unique, ecologically sensitive, culturally immersive journeys. Therefore, it is even more important to develop trekking routes that manage both accessibility and authenticity.
Regional tourists contribute significantly to Nepal’s visitor base, accounting for about 41.1% of total arrivals in 2023, with Indian, Chinese, and Bangladeshi tourists accounting for 31.52%, 5.99%, and 3.59% of the total tourist arrivals.
The transformation of Mustang presents both a cautionary tale and a blueprint for future development in Nepal’s mountain regions and the region’s success will depend on striking a delicate balance: leveraging improved accessibility to promote sustainable tourism while preserving its unique cultural heritage.
In fact, by 2013, 51% of leisure travelers were already pursuing food-focused trips, according to American Culinary Traveler.