Kathmandu, November 6:

With an impressive growth registered by Indian tourists arrival, the total tourists arrival to Nepal by air in October posted a growth of 15.1 per cent compared to the same month last year.

According to the figures released today by the ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation, a total of 38,563 tourists came to Nepal during October.

Out of the total, the Indian tourists arrival registered a remarkable increase by 58.1 per cent, as a total of 8,327 Indian tourists visited Nepal by air during the month.

Series of promotional programmes and media campaigns in India have lately started paying back with such impressive growth in arrival for last couple of months.

The third country tourists arrival have also started recovering, as the figure marked an increment of 7.1 per cent during the month. Although growth during the first five months remained negative, the tourists arrival began picking up since June with a marginal growth of 0.9 per cent.

However, the total tourists arrival during the first 10 months of the year is still low by 7.8 per cent compared to the same period last year. A total of 223,258 tourists arrived Nepal from January to October this year. 242,019 tourist arrived during the same period last year.

Among the South Asian countries, arrivals from Bangladesh continued to grow as it marked an increment of 49 per cent with 462 Bangladeshi visitors arriving Nepal. The Pakistani arrivals also posted a growth of seven per cent to 183 visitors. Sri Lankan tourists arrival also increased by 169.6 per cent to 151 visitors.

Among the other Asian countries; China registered a significant growth of 83.7 per cent and Malaysian arrivals grew by 2.2 per cent.

The primary Asian market like Japan posted only 4.7 per cent growth, whereas South Korean arrivals picked up by 23 per cent. A total of 858 Chinese tourists came to Nepal, while the arrivals for Malaysia, Japan and Korea stood at 473, 1,891 and 401 tourists respectively.

Growth in the third country arrivals is propelled by recovery observed in arrivals from major long-haul markets like Canada, Israel, Italy, Spain, UK and the US, according to the figures.

The Canadian arrivals increased by 20.2 per cent to 707 tourists, while tourist arrivals from Israel marked a growth of 71.9 per cent to 956 visitors during the month.

The Italian arrivals stood at 1,099 and the Spanish arrivals recovered with 2.8 per cent growth to 1,428 tourists. The arrivals from Singapore, Switzerland and Sweden also posted growths, albeit total number of tourists is comparatively less.

Growth in arrivals from the major markets like the UK and the US continued for yet another month, as the UK posted a 20.1 per cent growth to 4,154 visitors. The Americans arrival increased marginally by 3.9 per cent to 2,309 visitors.

However, arrivals from two major markets Germany and France dropped this month by 6.3 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.

Growing trend

India 8,327 58.1pc

China 858 83.7pc

Japan 1,891 4.7pc

Spain 1,428 42.4pc

UK 4,154 21.3pc

US 2,309 3.9pc