35% of NTY target achieved in first half of 2011

REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, July 1: Tourist arrivals to Nepal via air increased by 27 percent over the first six months of 2011.

According to Tribhuwan International Airport Immigration Office, the country has so far welcomed around 250,000 visitors, which is only 35 percent of the target set for Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011 campaign. The country targets to welcome 700,000 tourists via air during NTY 2011.


Tourist arrivals in June have increased by 37.9 percent to 37,226, as compared to arrival figures of the same period last year. According to the figures released by the office, all regions posted positive growth during the month. Arrivals from the South Asian segment increased by 52.4 percent, thanks to strong growth of 59.3 percent from India. Similarly, arrivals from Pakistan and Sri Lanka also increased by 23.1 percent and 46.5 percent respectively.

However, arrivals from Bangladesh dropped by 12.5 percent.

Arrivals from Asia (other than South Asian market) also recorded a positive growth of 31.9 percent during the period, with Chinese arrivals growing by a whopping 105.4 percent. Arrivals from Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand also increased by 18.9 percent, 6.3 percent, 35.9 percent and 2.9 percent respectively.

European market also recorded positive growth of 10.9 percent in aggregate. Arrivals from UK, France, Germany and Italy grew by 11.8 percent, 11.2 percent, 26.8 percent and 34.8 percent respectively.

However, arrivals from Sweden and Spain declined by 39.3 and 27.4 percent respectively. The arrivals from USA recorded positive growth of 24.3 percent during the month.