Tourist arrivals up 20pc in July

Tourist arrivals in July have increased by 20 percent compared to the same period last year. According to figures provided by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), number of arrivals via air was 35,212 last month. 

With this, total number of arrivals has crossed 280,000 which is 40 percent of the Nepal Tourism Year´s (NTY) target. Nepal is planning to welcome 700,000 visitors via air and 300,000 visitors through land routes. 

In aggregate, visitor arrivals have increased by 24.3 percent during the first seven months of NTY. 

Figures show arrivals from South Asian region have gained an overall positive growth of 21.7 percent. Number of Indian tourists increased by 24.5 percent, Pakistani by 58 percent, and Sri Lankan by 70.8 percent during this period. However, number of arrivals from Bangladesh declined by 11.2 percent. 

Visitor arrivals from Asia excluding South Asian market recorded a growth of 56.6 percent. China, another major source market, recorded a phenomenal growth of 127 percent in tourist arrivals in July. Similarly, visitor arrivals from Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea increased by 18.9, 36 and 23.9 percent respectively. 

Europe recorded a negative growth of 5.6 percent this month compared to July, 2010. Arrivals from UK, France, and Belgium showed positive growth of 7.1 percent, 4.7 percent and 31.4 percent respectively. Arrivals from Germany, Netherlands, Spain declined by 43.3, 24.1 and 21.1 percent respectively. 

Despite the negative growth in European market, arrivals from long haul market as United States of America recorded a positive growth of 16.8 percent. Similarly, arrivals from Australia have also increased by 32 percent. 

Source - myrepublica