South Asia propels tourist arrivals

Robust growth from the South Asian market, Nepal observed an increment of 37.9 per cent in total tourist arrival via air in June.
According to the Immigration Office, Tribhuwan International Airport, a total of 37,226 tourists arrived in June that is an increment of 37.9 per cent compared to same period last year.
The upward trend since January this year has continued in the sixth month showing clearly the rising travel demand towards Nepal, Nepal Tourism Board said.
All the regions have shown positive growth but in aggregate, the South Asian segment has registered a whopping growth of 52.4 per cent.
India -- that constitutes a major market of Nepal -- has recorded a healthy growth of 59.3 per cent. followed by arrivals from Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Their arrivals have increased by 46.5per cent and 23.1 per cent respectively, though arrivals from Bangladesh declined by 12.5 per cent.
Arrivals from Asia -- except South Asia -- have also recorded positive growth of 31.9 per cent in aggregate due to a boost from China that has doubled with 105.4 per cent growth compared to the same month last year.
Similarly, the arrivals from Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand have also increased by 18.9 per cent, 6.3 per cent, 35.9 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively.
However the arrivals from Singapore declined by 54.9 per cent.An overall positive growth of 10.9per cent has been observed from the European markets with arrivals from major tourist generating markets like the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Russia up by 11.8 per cent, 11.2 per cent, 28.6 per cent, 34.8 per cent, 18.3 per cent, 35.3 per cent, and 47.3 per cent, respectively.
However, the arrivals from the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Poland declined by 11.7 per cent, 27.4 per cent, 39.3 per cent and 16.4 per cent respectively compared to the same month last year.
Tourist arrivals from Australia and New Zealand have increased by 38.9 per cent and 170.4 per cent, respectively, apartfrom arrivals from USA that saw a positive growth of 24.3 per cent. However arrivals from Canada decreased by 3.8 per cent.
Between January and June, the six months observed international tourist arrivals via air to Nepal to grow by 25 per cent to 245,363 in aggregate but the country has set a target of one million tourists this year under Nepal Tourism Year 2011 campaign.
Meanwhile, a total of 44,635 foreign tourists and 67,908 Nepalis departed from TIA, whereas 50,671 Nepalis arrived from TIA in June.