China, India propel tourist arrivals

Chinese and Indian tourist arrivals boosted May figures as the country witnessed a phenomenal growth for the fifith consecutive month.
"The visitor arrivals in May compared to the same month last year increased by a 47.1 per cent to 39,179," according to the Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport data.
The visitor arrivals from China doubled by 101.1 per cent compared to the same month last year, whereas India -- that constitutes the major market of Nepal -- recorded robust growth of 78.4 per cent, it said, adding that al the regions have shown positive growth.
"The upward trend since January continues in the fifth month of the year," Nepal Tourism Board said, adding that from January to May -- in the five months -- international tourist arrivals to Nepal by air -- increased by 22.9 per cent to 208,137. If the trend continues, Nepal could see some half million tourist arrivals by air, whereas Nepal Tourism Year 2011 has a target of hosting one million tourists this year. "The remaining half million is expected from land route," according to Nepal Tourism Board.
In aggregate the South Asian segment has registered a positive growth of 71.5 per cent as arrivals from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have increased by 3.3 per cent, 24.1 per cent and 31.6 per cent, respectively.
Arrivals from Asia -- other than South Asia -- have also recorded remarkable growth of 63.9 per cent in aggregate. Similarly, the arrivals from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and South Korea also increased by 134.3 per cent, 115.7 per cent, 78.3 per cent and 94.1 per cent, respectively. However, the arrivals from Japan have declined by 15 per cent.
The European markets also registered a growth. "An overall positive growth of 10.5 per cent has been observed from European markets with arrivals from major generating markets such as the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Russia up by 1.4 per cent, 37.9 per cent, 6.3 per cent, 34.8 per cent, 4.3 per cent, 25.3 per cent, 57.1 per cent and 31.6 per cent, respectively.
Tourist arrivals from Australia and New Zealand also increased by 53.2 per cent and 129.7 per cent, respectively, whereas arrivals from USA and Canada saw positive growth of 19.4 per cent and 13.5 per cent, respectively.
A total of 52,489 foreign tourists departed from TIA in May while some 51,610 Nepalis arrived and 67,908 Nepalis departed from TIA in May.

The arrivals
January-- 32914
February -- 37,584
March -- 46,491
April -- 51,969
May -- 39,179