During the first nine months of Nepal Tourism Year 2011, Nepal received a total of 496,401 , up 22.32 percent compared to the same period last year.

The arrivals amount to nearly 50 percent of the target set for NTY 2011 when the country has envisioned welcoming one million tourists.

According to government statistics, arrivals by air up to 369,844 while the country welcomed 126,557 overland tourists in the first nine months of this year. Total arrivals in 2010 reached more than 600,000.



The arrivals amount to nearly 50 percent of the target set for NTY 2011 when the country has envisioned welcoming one million tourists.

According to government statistics, arrivals by air up to 369,844 while the country welcomed 126,557 overland tourists in the first nine months of this year. Total arrivals in 2010 reached more than 600,000.

According to the Department of Immigration, tourist arrivals through land entry points during the period January-September last year amounted to 104,331. Land arrivals have increased 21 percent as compared to the corresponding period last year. The terrestrial figure does not include Indian tourists as they are not included in the arrivals data unless they enter Nepal through Kodari. Among the seven land entry points (Kodari, Kakkarbhitta, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Kanchanpur, Dhangadhi and Nepalgunj), Bhairahawa explicated 56.50 percent of the arrivals. According to the department, 153,757 tourists entered Nepal overland in 2010, against 130,634 in 2009. According to Nepal Tourism Board spokesperson Aditya Baral although the target set for 2011 is unlikely to be met, the increased tourist movement has shown a positive result for the country’s tourism industry.

Baral added that international airlines increasing their frequency for the October-November period, the peak tourist season, shows that arrivals are likely to increase during these months. Arrivals during the period October to mid-December account for more than 40 percent of the annual holiday makers in Nepal, particularly from the long-haul market.

Travel trade entrepreneurs said that rafting, trekking and mountaineering, among other adventure opportunities, were the major attractions for tourists. Hoteliers have also reported full occupancies of late.