Kathmandu, November 8:

International tourist arrivals via air during the month of October this year registered a decline of 4.4 per cent as compa-red to the same period in 2005.

Altogether 36,851 visitors entered Nepal during the period as indicated by the statistics released by the ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation quoting the Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu.

A total of 38,563 tourists had arrived in Nepal during October, 2005. Potential countries like Malaysia, Japan and South Korea have registered a positive growth. Likewise European countries like France, Norway and Spain have also shown significant growth during October. USA, too, has exhibited a growth of 4.8 per cent. However, arrivals suffered losses from regions like SAARC by 15.9 per cent, Europe by 2.6 per cent, and Singapore by 52.7 per cent and Thailand 29.9 per cent.

Nevertheless, putting all the development in perspective and taking a bird’s eye view of the trend, growing peace and stability is sure to create a favourable impression.