Tourist arrivals record healthy growth

Tourist arrivals during the month of June have increased by 16.2 per cent to 43,238.

According to figures released by the Immigration Office, Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA), the South Asian segment has registered a growth of 12.2 per cent. India,which constitutes the major market of Nepal, has recorded a healthy growth of 12.7 per cent. In addition, arrivals from Pakistan have increased by 36.5 per cent. However, arrivals from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have declined by 3.7 per cent and 14.4 per cent respectively.

Arrivals from Asia (other than South Asia) have also recorded a growth of 45.8 per cent in aggregate. Visitor arrivals from China grew by 61 per cent as compared to the same month last year. Similarly, arrivals from Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand have also increased by 26.9 per cent, 56.3 per cent, 63.6 per cent and 67.1 per cent respectively.

An overall growth of 3.7 per cent has been observed from the European markets with arrivals from the UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Russia up by 17.1 per cent, 6 per cent, 2.5 per cent, 11.2 per cent, and 4 per cent respectively. However, arrivals from Germany, Spain, and Italy have declined by 16.2 per cent, 3.9 per cent, and 20 per cent respectively, as compared to the same month last year.

Tourist arrivals from Australia, Canada and USA have increased by 3.7 per cent, 73.4 per cent and 12.4 per cent respectively. However, arrivals from New Zealand have decreased by 38.4 per cent. Between January and June, international tourist arrivals to Nepal have risen by 19.8 per cent to 294,019 in aggregate.

In June, 51,397 foreign tourists departed from TIA. The number of Nepali arrivals stood at 52,976 while 77,000 Nepalis departed from TIA in June.