Visitors Arrival in April 2008 (by air only)
May 04, 208

April Records a marginal decrease of 1% to last year

The arrival figures released by Immigration Office, TIA indicate that visitors' arrivals to Nepal in April 2008 reached 32,665, which is a marginal decrease of 1% as compared to same month last year. However European Sector remains unchanged with almost the same figure as compared to the April 2007. France grew up by 21%, Austria with 20%, Netherland & Israel with 28%, Switzerland with 66%, Spain with 25%, but UK, Sweden & Germany decreased by 20%, 31%, & 20% respectively.

There are some significant growths recorded; Australia & New Zealand arrivals show a growth of 51%. Closely following the trend are Canada & USA with the growth of 25%. The arrival figure shows a decrease of 18% for the Asian countries. SAARC countries arrival is decreased by 14% where India has the share of 19% decrement. Bangladesh on the other hand shows an extraordinary growth of 60% which may be the positive impact of the recent Bangladesh Sales Mission program held vigorously. Taking the data into consideration, the main reason for the decrease in arrival might be the prediction of uncertainty in the minds of travelers due to our Constitutional Assembly (CA) Polls.

Analyzing the total number of arrivals in the first four months of this year, it shows 1,28,802 visitors to Nepal with an increment 11.15% than the total arrival of the same period of last year. Therefore, we are still hopeful of getting a healthy growth in days to come. The successful completion of the Constitutional Assembly Election with peace being reinstated in the country will definitely give a good message to the potent travelers and also to the travel trade fraternity of the world.

Growth in tourist arrival continues in January
11 Feb, 2008

The increasing trend in tourist arrival to Nepal continued in January, 2008, bringing in 2985 more visitors as compared to January last year. According to Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), January recorded healthy increment of 12.9% against the arrival figure of same period last year (via air only).

According to statistical figures disseminated by NTB, arrivals from the SAARC region increased by 7% despite the decline in arrivals from India (-12.2%) and Sri Lanka (-12.5%). The European and North American markets have registered robust growth of 33.1% and 34.3% respectively.

China (96.8%), South Korea (5.1%), Thailand (23.2 %) and Malaysia (12.1 %) posted a remarkable growth. In January, South Korea contributed more than 10% of the total tourist arrival. However, arrivals from another stable market for Nepal, Japan, went down by 15.3%.

Among European countries, the UK (33.9 %), France (78.5 %), Germany (4.5 %), Spain (28.5 %), and Netherlands (36.5 %) have recorded a significant growth showing increased consumer confidence towards the destination. However, arrivals from Austria declined by 7.5%.

Nepal received record number of visitors in the year 2007 surpassing the best figures of 1999. With substantial increase in tourist arrival in January, it can be expected that the coming months will also record impressive growth rates.