India -- the leading tourist generating market for Nepal -- recorded the highest growth of 68.6 percent during the review period.[break]
Nepal welcomed 6,606 more Indian tourists during the month as compared to the same period in the past year. Arrivals from Sri Lanka (116.1 percent), Bangladesh (19.7 percent) and Pakistan (19.5 percent) also recorded healthy rise. The arrivals from the South Asian region recorded overall positive growth of 61.4 percent during the period.
Similarly, arrivals from China -- one of the fastest growing market for Nepal -- increased by 47 percent during the review period compare to March, 2011. Total arrivals from Asia (other than South Asia) also grew by 21.5 percent in aggregate.
Overall arrivals from Europe market increased by whopping 42 percent, helped by healthy growth from all leading markets.
The number of foreign tourists over the first three months of 2012 increased by 27 percent to 148,546 compared to arrival figures of the same period in 2011.
Tourist arrivals from Tatopani entry point decreases
The number of tourists arriving in Nepal from Tatopani border crossing with China has decreased significantly in the backdrop of greater Chinese security measures to maintain "security in Tibet".
The tourist arrival had slowed down for the last six months and hit its lowest point in the last two months. According to immigration office, Kodari, number of tourist arrivals was down by 25 percent in January and February compared to same period last year.
Number of tourist coming through China had gone down by 44 percent and tourists going to China from Nepal was down by 16 percent.
During first two month of this year, 852 tourists came to Nepal and 1,498 went to China through Nepal. Jagannath Sharma, chief of immigration office at Kodari said, “After the strictness in border from the Chinese side, foreigners were complaining about unnecessary checking and monitoring which eventually decreased tourist movement here.”
According to immigration officials mostly Chinese nationals had used the border crossing after the heightened security.
Last year 58,000 tourists came to Nepal through Tatopani entry-point and 39,000 tourists went to China from Nepal´s side. The immigration office had issued 6,720 visa last year.
China has almost barred visitors to Tibet in March to avoid possible protests coinciding with the birthday of its exiled leader Dalai Lama.
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