Nepal recorded over half-a-million tourist arrivals in the eleven months in this year.

“The last eleven months have seen consistent healthy growth of international tourist arrivals to Nepal at an average of 21.5 per cent — around 1,518 visitors a day — to a record a historic high of 501,264,” according to the Immigration Office at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

“In November, some 58,156 tourists visited Nepal by air making the total number of visitors between January and November 501,264, the ever highest number in tourism history of Nepal,” Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) that analysed the data claimed.

The figures revealed the growth of 20.3 per cent this November compared to last November.

Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY 2011) has a target of hosting one million guest and arrivals by air till the eleventh month has crossed half-a-million. If the arrivals by land touches another half-a-million, the target, thought to be ambitious, could be achieved. However, there is only one month to go.

But the South Asian region, except for Bangladesh, and China posted robust growth to propel the visitors arrivals in November.

The South Asian region has gained overall positive growth, it said, adding that the arrivals from India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan registered growth of 22.1 per cent, 22.1 per cent and 27.4 per cent in November, respectively. But Bangladesh witnessed a negative growth of 11.8 per cent.

Similarly, other Asian countries like China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea maintained the upward trend with 149.4 per cent, 6.2 per cent, nine per cent,16.9 per cent and 11.3 per cent of growth, respectively. 

However, arrivals from Thailand witnessed negative growth of 26.1 per cent, the data revealed.

Except for Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, the Europe also maintained positive growth. Arrivals from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealnad also increased compared to the same month last year.

A total of 81,261 international tourists departed from TIA in November, whereas the total departures of international tourists between January and November touched 562,205.

Similarly, Nepalis arrivals stood at 56,547, while 69,194 Nepalis departed from the TIA in November.

Key markets

India 132,653

China 40,244

USA 35,062

UK 32,209

France 22,508

Bangladesh 16,308

Pakistan 4,476

Sri Lanka 1,795