Figures released by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) show that a total of 23,222 foreign visitors traveled to Nepal in June compared with 21,901 of the same months last year. A 25 percent rise in the number of European visitors has largely triggered this growth. [break]
“It looks like more Europeans are becoming optimistic about better economic prospects as latest economic outlooks give a picture of Europe slowly rising out of the crisis. This is reviving their confidence level and making them less thrifty,” a source at NTB told myrepublica.com on condition of anonymity.
“Despite the increment in visitors´ number, there is still certain degree of uncertainty prevailing in the markets and the growth will depend on the evolving economic conditions.”
In the month of June, a total of 3,682 Europeans visited Nepal, with the number of the UK visitors topping the list. Arrivals from the UK clocked 1,124 in the review period, up 15 percent. The number of visitors from other key European destinations such as Germany and the Netherlands also posted growth of 27 percent and 30 percent, respectively.
The number of tourists coming from the US and Canada has also posted positive growth. In June, a total of 1,990 Americans and 303 Canadians visited Nepal, up 21 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
“The increment shows that the global economic downturn failed to deter international visitors from visiting the tourist destinations of their choice,” states a press release issued by NTB.
The number of incoming tourists from other Asian destinations, however, has posted mixed results. Tourist arrivals from China, for instance, increased by 17 percent to 740, while the number of Japanese visitors entering Nepal fell by four percent to 508. The number of Japanese visitors coming to Nepal has been continuously declining since the beginning of this year primarily due to the global economic crisis which has resulted in millions of job losses in that country.
Tourist arrivals from India, a major tourist destination, also fell by six percent to 10,741. “This is largely due to the advent of the monsoon season,” the NTB source said. Indian visitors make up almost 40 percent of the total tourists coming to the country.
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