Thursday, November 1, 2012

Drop in South Asian visitors pulls tourist arrivals down


Though the country observed a sustained growth in international tourist arrivals by air since June 2009, it has dropped in October — the peak tourist month — compared to the same month a year ago.
Last October, Nepal observed 73,264 international visitors, whereas this October witnessed 7.3 per cent less to 67,901 arrivals by air due to 28.5 per cent drop in visitors from the South Asia region, according to the figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
The SAARC region showed a 28.5 per cent decline compared to the same month last year, the figures revealed, adding that a key market in SAARC — India — recorded a decline of 30.1 per cent. Likewise, arrivals from Bangladesh and Pakistan also witnessed negative growth of 18.3 per cent and 45.6 per cent, respectively. However, only Sri Lanka registered a positive growth of 48 per cent.
However, the aggregate growth for the January-October — 10 months period — has remained positive with 11.5 per cent growth compared to the same period last year. A total of 494,019 international tourists visited Nepal in the 10 months compared to 2011's same period's 443,108.
The arrivals from Asia — except South Asia — recorded a positive growth of 4.9 per cent in an aggregate. Visitor arrivals from China — one of the fastest growing tourist markets for Nepal — sustained the growth of 0.7 per cent, and Malaysia also posted a growth by 83.6 per cent.
However, Japan (down by 12 per cent), South Korea (down by 16.4 per cent), Singapore (down by 6.2 per cent) and Thailand (down by 16.6 per cent) witnessed negative growth.
European markets also posted weaker arrivals with overall negative growth by 17.5 per cent. Arrivals from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Spain, Switzerland and Russia declined by 9.3 per cent, 5.3 per cent, 19.2 per cent, 23.2 per cent, 27.6 per cent, 22.5 per cent, and 18.5 per cent, respectively compared to the same month last year.
However, arrivals from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and US have registered positive growth of 17.4 per cent, 50 per cent, 0.5 per cent and 22.3 per cent, respectively.
The decrease in the arrivals by air also revealed the impact of global economic downturn in international visitors.
Similarly, a total of 75,412 foreign tourists departed from TIA in October — 9.1 per cent more — compared to same month last year.
The international airport also witnessed some 76,257 Nepalis arrivals, whereas some 58,378 Nepalis departed from TIA in October.
 
The arrivals by air
Month — 2011 — 2012
January — 32,914 — 42,031
February — 37,584 — 42,716
March — 46,491 — 63,799
April — 51,969 — 59,415
May — 39,179 — 42,820
June — 37,226 — 43,238
July — 35,212 — 38,453
August — 43,487 — 44,571
September — 45,789 — 49,075
October — 73,264 — 67,901
Total — 443,108 — 494,019
(Source: Nepal Tourism Board)

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