Visitors arriving by air route to Nepal during March 2007 witnessed another encouraging upsurge with 33.5% growth registered during the month compared to the last March. A total of 34,122 international visitors entered Nepal last month which comprised of 20% Indians and 80% non-Indians. This was stated in the figures provided by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal.

Within the SAARC segment, Bangladesh jumped up by 74.8%, while in the other Asian segment towering growth came from China (121.8%), Malaysia (136.4%) and South Korea (98%). The Japanese arrivals also grew comfortably by 31.9% along with ROC Taiwan 34.3% while Singaporean arrivals fell down by 16.4%. Although the Indian visitors arrival dropped by 5.3%, rest of the countries arrival escalated by 48.6%.

Towering growth was observed from European markets too as it grew 58.2% average. Among the key contributors from the European segment were France (38.4%), Germany (74.2%) and UK (45.9%). Encouraging growth was registered from rest of the markets too like Belgium (110.3%), Israel (91%), Italy (51.5%), the Netherlands (42.3%), Switzerland (52.9%) and Spain (83.4%). The Norway (156.1%), Denmark (178.7%) and Sweden (72.2%) too showed higher growth rates. Positive trend continued from Australia (32.2%) as well as USA (36.9%) and Canada (131.3%).

The growth in arrivals is contributed by the improved air connectivity in the region on one hand and the growing confidence among the international trade and consumer towards the new era of peace and stability in Nepal on the other. This very encouraging rise in long haul markets especially from US and Europe attests this renewed interest in Nepal as a unique holiday destination.