Nepal welcomed 720,000 tourists
Kathmandu: Despite the ambitious target of welcoming one million tourists during Nepal Tourism Year-2011, a total of 719,547 tourists visited Nepal in 2011.
According to the figures released by Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) Immigration Office, visitor arrivals in the month of December 2011, compared to the same month last year, have increased by 20.4% to 43,721. Also, the total number of visitor arrivals by air in aggregate (Jan-Dec, 2011), compared to same period in 2010, have increased by 21.4% to 544,985. Nepal received 96,216 more visitors in same period (Jan-Dec) of 2010.
“The year 2011 has concluded with positive notes both in terms of total visitor arrivals for the month of December and also for the whole year, “a statement released by Nepal Tourism Board stated.
In December 2011, arrivals from Asia (other than South Asia) have recorded positive growth of 31.5% in aggregate with China (107.7%) , Japan (8.1%) and South Korea ( 17.8%). However, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand have registered negative growth of 8.5%, 11.9%, and 20.7% respectively compared to the same month last year.
In the SAARC region, arrivals from India have grown by 26.1% but arrivals from Pakistan Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have declined by 19.2%, 29% and 40.7% respectively in December 2011. In aggregate the South Asian segment has registered a positive growth of 13.3% in the month of December and 30.1% in the year 2011.
An overall positive growth of 21.7 % has been observed from the European markets in the month of December 2011 and 11.2% in the year 2011. Arrivals from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Spain are up by 12.3%, 23.5%, 13.6%, 22.1%, 50.7% and 74.4% respectively. However, the Netherlands, Austria and Poland have posted a negative growth of 4.2%, 45.7% and 20% respectively.
Tourist arrivals from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA have also registered remarkable growth of 9.5%, 25.4%, 22.5% and 23.8% respectively in December 2011 compared to 2010.
The total number of visitor arrivals by land till November 2011 is 174,612. With this the number of visitors visiting Nepal in 2011 has totaled 719,547 .The arrivals by land for month of December 2011 is not included.
A total of 50,840 foreign tourists departed from TIA in December 2011. The number of Nepalese arrivals stood at 60,466 while 65,247 Nepalese departed from TIA in December 2011.
