Average income per tourist per day falls $22

KATHMANDU, Aug 3: Although length of stay and number of tourist increased in 2010 compared to the previous year, latest data reveals that average tourism income per tourist per day has dropped more than 33 percent.

According to statistics provided by the foreign exchange management department of Nepal Rastra Bank, income per visitor on an average dropped $22 per visitor per day. On an average, a tourist spent $65.3 in 2009 but only $43.2 last year.

The total earning from tourism has declined 12.5 percent during this period. Nepal earned nearly Rs 29 billion through tourism in 2009 which reduced to Rs 23.43 billion in 2010.

Data from the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) states that tourists visiting for trekking and mountaineering declined significantly whereas tourists for pilgrimage have gone up.

Trekkers and mountaineers spend more than other tourists, say tourism entrepreneurs. Statistics show that 26.1 percent of total tourists visited Nepal for trekking and mountaineering which in 2009 which dropped to 13.8 percent in 2010. Similarly, tourist coming for pilgrimage comprised only 10 percent of the total arrivals in 2009 which increased to nearly 20 percent in 2010.

Nepal had registered as high as $79.1 per day per visitor in 2003 which declined to $45.1, $58.5 and $55 in succeeding years. The average income from per tourist was $45 and $73 in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

According to an official at Foreign Exchange Management Department of the central bank, the decline in income is mainly due to foreign exchange straying into informal sectors, where it is not regarded as tourism income. “Also, number of tourists from South Asia and China who comparatively spend less than European and American tourists, has gone up,” the official said.

Despite a decline in tourism income, latest data from MoTCA shows average length of stay has increased to 12.67 days in 2010 from 11.32 days in 2009. Similarly, number of arrivals increased 18.2 percent during this period.

The purpose of visit by tourist interests has been pilgrimage, trekking and mountaineering, and holiday/pleasure at 19.9 percent, 13.8 percent and 12.4 percent respectively.