Tourist arrivals decreases in October 2012
TBN Reporter—-
Kathmandu: International tourist arrivals by air decreased by 7.3 per cent to 67,901 as compared to the same month last year. September to November is considered a peak tourist season in Nepal. The country had observed 73,264 international arrivals in October 2011.
According to the figures released by Immigration Office, TIA and NTB, the arrival from SAARC region declined during the month by 28.5 to 8,312. Last year, 11,622 tourists from the SAARC region had visited Nepal during the month.
The Indian market, which is considered a major market in SAARC countries, registered a decline of 30.1 per cent this October, whereas visitor arrivals from neighboring China sustained the growth of 0.7 per cent.
Arrivals from Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand have witnessed a negative growth in this peak season.
Similarly, arrivals from European countries including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Russia registered a negative growth of 17.5 per cent. However, arrivals from Canada and the USA recorded slight growth.
The total arrival of tourists during the first 10 months of 2012 increased by 11.5 per cent to 494,019, whereas 443,108 international tourists had visited Nepal during January-October in 2011.
The Tribhuvan International Airport witnessed some 76,257 Nepali arrivals and 58,378 Nepalis departed from TIA in October, 2012. Similarly, a total of 75,412 foreign tourists departed from TIA in October this year.
