Tourists arrival soar in July

Encouraging Chinese and South Asian tourists arrival propels overall visitors arrivals by air in July.

China recorded a growth of 104.2 per cent, whereas South Asian arrivals posted 19.9 per cent increase in the month of July.

"Visitor arrivals this July -- compared to the same month last year -- have increased by 26.1 per cent to 29,338," according to the figures released by Immigration Office,Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) here today.

The arrivals from South Asian region have gained overall positive growth of 31.3 per cent with Bangladesh (88.9 per cent), India (26.5 per cent), Pakistan (10.3 per cent), and Sri Lanka (48.7 per cent) registering positive growth, the data reveals.

Increase in visitor arrivals from India shows sustained growth this year, except for the soft decline in the month of April, said the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

Visitor arrivals from Asia -- except South Asian region -- have also recorded double digit growth of 19.9 per cent. China -- another major source market -- recorded phenomenal growth of 104.2 per cent.

Visitor arrivals from Japan (10.7 per cent), Malaysia (98.9 per cent), and Singapore (24.7 per cent) have registered positive growths. "However arrivals from South Korea andThailand have registered negative growths of 2.1 per cent and 45 per cent respectively.

From long-haul markets, Europe registered overall positive growth of 24.6 per cent with major source markets showing positive trend in terms of visitor arrivals.

Arrivals from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden UK, up by 8.5 per cent, 13.8 per cent, 56.7 per cent, 29.9 per cent, 94.8 per cent, 57.8 per cent, 32.4 per cent, 67.9 per cent, 42.7 per cent, 22.8 per cent, 52.5 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively.

Likewise, arrivals from Canada and the United States of America also registered positive growth of 24.9 per cent and 12.8 per cent respectively. Australia showed marginal increase in arrival figure by 0.9 per cent while New Zealand posted negative growth of 31.1 per cent.

In addition, arrival by land till June totaled 60,877, up by 6.2 per cent compared to the same period last year. March remained the strongest of the first six months of 2010 with total 18,620 arrivals, ahead of February (15,823) and January (7,492) on a month-by-month basis.

Bhairahawa border recorded 10 per cent of positive growth with total 42,190 tourists coming in followed by Kodari and Kakarvitta with 13,630 and 3,376 arrivals respectively in the first six months of 2010.

Aggregate visitor arrivals continue to rise by 15 per cent to 257,196 for the period between January-June -- both by air and land -- compared to the same month last year, according to the NTB. "Almost all the markets have exhibited positive results."

A total of 31,103 foreign tourists departed from TIA in July, whereas the number of Nepalis arrivals stood at 50,309 and 64,972 Nepalis departed from TIA in July.