Steady growth in tourist arrival in Nepal
Kathmandu, Feb.2: Nepal has recorded a steady growth in international tourist arrivals in January, 2012.The tourist arrivals reached 42,031 with 27.7% of robust growth in January this year compared to the same month last year.
According to the figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) ,India which constitutes the major market of Nepal, has recorded positive growth of 29.2%. In the SAARC region, arrivals from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have registered positive growth by 34.4% and 112.5% respectively. However, the arrivals from Pakistan declined by 29.6%. In aggregate, the South Asian segment has registered a positive growth of 27.7%.
Arrivals from Asia (other than South Asia) have also recorded positive growth of 42% in aggregate with all markets showing improved performance except Malaysia. The visitor’s arrivals from China have increased significantly by 107%. Similarly, the arrivals from Japan, Singapore, Thailand and South Korea have also increased by 6.4%, 5.2%, 8.4%, and 7.9% respectively. Malaysia registered negative growth of 13.5% in January 2012 compared to the same month in 2011.
An overall positive growth of 22.8% has been observed from the European markets with arrivals from major generating markets such as the UK, Germany, France and Switzerland up by 4.7%, 27.9%, 88.1% and 132.4% respectively. However, the arrivals from Austria, the Netherlands and Sweden have declined by 3.8%, 9.7% and 59.9% respectively compared to the same month last year.
Tourist arrivals from Australia, Canada and USA have also registered growths of 8.6%, 27.8%, and 7.7% respectively. A negative growth of 12.2% was recorded from the New Zealand in January 2012 compared to January 2011.
‘Nepal has enjoyed a continuous positive growth in the international visitor arrivals since June 2009 and the trend continues in year 2012 too. These figures reflect rising confidence amidst international visitors and tour operators’,a press release of NTB said.
A total of 52,617 foreign tourists departed from TIA in January 2012. The number of Nepalese arrivals stood at 82,897 while 67,194 Nepalese departed from TIA in January 2012.
