Tourist arrival until May of the current fiscal year increased by 47.1 per cent to 39,179 as compared to the corresponding month last year, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). This data is based on figures released by the Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
Tourist arrivals from SAARC countries registered a positive growth of 71.5 per cent while arrival of Indian tourists recorded a robust growth of 78.4 per cent, stated the NTB.
According to the figure, tourist arrivals from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have also increased by 3.3 per cent, 24.1 per cent and 31.6 per cent, respectively.
Tourist arrival from Asian countries (other than SAARC region) also recorded a remarkable growth of 63.9 per cent, perhaps due to the improved security situation and impact of Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) campaign.
Giving a ray of hope for sustainable tourism development in the country, tourist arrival from the world's second largest economy and most populous country, China, increased by over 100 per cent to the same month last year.
Similarly, tourist arrivals from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and South Korea increased by 134 per cent, 115.7 per cent, 78 per cent and 94 per cent, respectively. However, tourist arrival from Japan has declined by 15 per cent.
Likewise, overall tourist arrival from the European countries rose by 10.5 per cent while tourist arrival from Australia and New Zealand has also increased by 53 per cent and 129 per cent, respectively.
Also tourist arrival from the USA and Canada increased in the period, compared to the same period last year.
During the first five months of the NTY 2011, tourist arrival has increased by some 23 per cent to 208,137, as per the available statistics.
A total of 52,489 foreign tourists departed from TIA in May 2011. The number of Nepalese arrivals stood at 51,610 while 67,908 Nepalese departed from TIA in May 2011