Visitor’s arriving to Nepal by air route, during the month of February 2007, observed a very positive upsurge in numbers, a 62.6% increase compared to the same month last year. The growth, with not a single market declining, was outstanding not only from the Asian countries but also substantially from Europe and USA. This was stated in the figures received today from the Immigration Office, TIA.

The Indian market went up by 54.8% followed by remarkable increases from all the SAARC countries including Bangladesh by 60.5%. Among the other Asian markets, gigantic leaps were registered in Chinese (281.6%), South Korean ((88.8%) and Japanese (69.5%) arrivals. The East Asian markets too surged heavily upwards with visitors from Thailand (110%), Malaysia (8.4%), Singapore (59.2%) and ROC Taiwan (29.2%) increasing. These remarkable increases in visitors arrival number has positioned the East Asian countries as key generating markets for Nepal occupying a market share of 28%.

The notable growth in European market was contributed by increases in arrivals from France (68.6%), Germany (23.4%), United Kingdom (88.3%) as well as improvement in arrivals from Belgium (46.8%), Italy (26.1%), Netherlands (40.4%) and others. Similarly in addition to the rise in Australian visitors (35.2%), the American visitors number swelled by 53.1%.

Robust increase in visitors number, specifically from South Korea, China and Bangladesh, has been the result of direct air connectivity recently established by the addition of new airlines between Nepal and the respective countries. With the vastly improved situation in the country, the rising confidence of international travel trade and consumers has paved the way for more travelers to visit Nepal.