Tourist arrivals rebound in November

The upward trend in tourist arrivals by air continued in November after a slight dip in October. According to the latest figures released by the Nepal Tourism Board, arrivals in November rose 2.2 percent to 59,411. Arrivals had dropped 7.3 percent in October, a three-year low despite being the peak tourist season due to falling arrivals from Europe and South Asia.

Despite the overall rise in the number of visitors, the South Asian segment plunged 23 percent year on year. The Indian market, considered to be a major tourist source, was down 21.6 percent. Similarly, arrivals from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka witnessed a negative growth of 37.3 percent and 24.0 percent respectively. However, Pakistan has registered a positive growth of 12.8 percent. South Asia has traditionally been the largest tourist market for Nepal. Meanwhile, a rise in arrivals from other Asian countries helped boost the growth in tourist arrivals. According to the NTB report, arrivals from Asia (other than South Asia) recorded a positive growth of 20.9 percent in aggregate. Arrivals from China, one of the fastest growing tourist markets globally and for Nepal, rose 9.6 percent year on year.

Similarly, arrivals from other Asian countries also registered high growth. The number of Malaysian tourists surged 151.4 percent, Thailand 97.6 percent, Singapore 31.3 percent and Japan 2.5 percent. However, arrivals from South Korea dropped 12.2 percent.

Meanwhile, the European market registered an overall growth of 3.1 percent with the UK leading the growth with 18.3 percent. Arrivals from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Russia also increased. However, arrivals from France and Spain suffered a decline in November.

With regard to Oceania, the number of visitors from Australia, New Zealand and the US registered a positive growth while arrivals from Canada declined.

Arrivals during the period January to November recorded a growth of 11.5 percent compared to 2011.

source: The Kathmandu post, 3 Dec 2012