A figure compiled by Nepal Tourism Board on the basis of data provided by immigration office at Tribhuwan International Airport, shows that a total of 251,523 tourists entered Nepal during the review period, down from 257,181 recorded during the same period last year.
However, the number of tourists coming to the country in September increased by five percent as compared to same month last year. A total of 34,281 foreign visitors entered the country in September, up from 32,502 recorded in the same month last year.
The number of tourists coming to Nepal in the first nine months of 2009 declined by four percent against the arrival figures of same period in the preceding year, contributed mainly by the decline in arrivals from India. However, the arrivals from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka rose by 25 percent and 15 percent respectively. Tourists from Pakistan also soared by 12 percent during the period.
Arrivals from North America recorded an increment of 4.5 percent in the review period, with visitors from US and Canada reaching a combined 24,139. Visitors from Australia and New Zealand each increased by 3.2 percent, while arrivals from European nations recorded a surge of 2 percent.
However, the decline in arrivals from SAARC nations that account for one-third of total foreign visitors to Nepal dragged down overall number of tourists. During the period, the major visitor generating markets were Europe with 29 percent, Asia with 18 percent, US with 10 percent and Australia with four percent.
Visitors from China recorded a whopping 32 percent growth in September as compared to arrival figure of same period last year. Arrivals from Japan and Thailand also increased by 25.1 percent and 43.6 percent respectively.
Arrivals from European market recorded a growth of 8.9 percent with the number of visitors from UK, Switzerland and Italy going up by 24 percent, 15 percent and 13.5 percent respectively during the first nine months.
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