An increase of 18.5% was recorded in the number of visitors arriving to Nepal by air in month of December 2005. During the month, both market segments Indians and non-Indians increased by 13.4% and 22.1% respectively. This was stated in the figures released today by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation quoting Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport.

Including India, growth for the month came from all the Asian markets excepting Taiwan (-23%). From the Asian segment, Japan (64.5%), Bangladesh (89.1%) and China (154.3%) recorded strong growths while substantial gains were obtained from South East Asian markets.

In its rising trend, the European market too recorded a 2.5% growth with arrival numbers increasing from UK (6.5%) and Germany (18.4%). The Dutch (-25.7), French (-6.7%) and Italian (-11.8%) market came down during the month while Spanish market went up (4.4%). Arrivals were down from Australian market (-9.1%) while American arrivals grew up (22.1%).

The encouraging growth in arrivals since the last seven months has helped recover the air arrival of 2005. This makes total air arrivals come down marginally compared to that of last year with an incremental loss of 3.9%. With the expected growth in the land arrivals, the overall arrival in 2005 could be at par with that of 2004.

The growing peace, safety and stability in the country had contributed significantly for the growth in the last seven months. Additionally increased air connectivity of Cosmic Air and Air Nepal International to various sectors as well as joint promotions of NTB along with Royal Nepal Airlines, Cosmic Air and Pashupati Area Development Trust helped the arrivals to grow. The news of cease-fire and growing destination image due to 150 groups of FAM trips coverage organized by NTB along with industry partners also had a significant impact.

2005 was again proved to be a year of mixed performance where arrivals were down in the first quarter (-32%) as well as in the second quarter (-18%). The decline during the period was caused by the global impact in travel post Tsunami in the Indian subcontinent at one hand and at the other, the hangover of September 1st, 2004 incident in Nepal. State of Emergency also caused travel reluctance from February onwards for the next three months. However, arrivals started recovering from June onwards as the third quarter went up by 24%. The last quarter of the year 2005 has also increased by 16%.

Commenting on the figures released for the year, NTB CEO Mr. Dangi says, “It is the seventh consecutive month since June, that arrivals have marked increase. NTB's promotion along with Nepalese travel industry partners in the volume generating markets like India and Bangladesh have shown positive results for the year.' He further added, 'We need to work more cohesively with the industry to sustain the improving destination image of Nepal.”

Visitors arrival in March 2006

Visitors arriving by air route to Nepal during March 2006 recorded 26.9% growth compared to the same month of last year. 25,553 international visitors comprising of 28% Indian and 72% non-Indian entered Nepal during the month. Both the market segments increased during the period. This was stated in the provisional figures provided today by Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, quoting Immigration Office, TIA.

Arrival of Indian visitors remained encouraging during the month as it escalated by 77.2%. The strong growth from the Indian market marks the increasing consumer confidence for the destination, which had gone down markedly last year. The market has been showing such trend since the end of last year. The other Asian markets have too increased significantly (88.3%) during the month. Arrivals from Japan, Taiwan and Singapore have doubled while persistent growth have been recorded from other Asian countries.

In the European segment, growth came from France (20.2%), Italy (13.4%), Switzerland (9.4%) and Sweden (9.1%) while the other markets showed some decline. For the overall decline of 17.2% from the European countries, UK went down by 21.8%, Germany by 28.7% and Spain by 15%. Other markets like Austria (-1.2%), Belgium (-20.1%), Israel (-29.7%), Denmark (-9.6%) and the Netherlands (-43.2%) declined during the month. On the other hand arrivals from USA and Australia both went up by 30.6% and 59.6% respectively.

Commenting on increasing trend in March, NTB CEO Mr. Tek Bahadur Dangi said “It is positive sign that Indian market has recovered almost at par with 2004. The new Nepal tourism brand to be launched in the market later this month shall help to further enhance the trend this season as well as in the off-season time.”

He further added, “The growth during March is still apparent because we reached low base figure in last March. Indicating that the growth came due to the rising consumer confidence as fewer cancellations were observed during the month, he urged the need to work more cohesively to keep up and enhance the pattern.”