BHAKTAPUR: The number of tourists visiting Bhaktapur has increased despite the April 25 earthquake and the unannounced border blockade imposed by India.

A total of 37,430 tourists visited the district from mid-April to mid-November in 2015. Of them, 10,665 tourists were from SAARC countries and China while 26,765 from other European countries.

Chief at the Bhaktapur Municipality Tourism Service Centre, Damodar Suwal, said that a total of 5,738 tourists from SAARC countries and China visited the district from mid-April to mid May, nine from mid-May to mid-June and 392 from mid-June to mid-July.

Similarly, 719 tourists from SAARC nations and China visited Bhaktapur from mid-July to mid August, 876 from mid-August to mid-September, 1,885 from mid-September to mid-October and 1,046 from mid-October to mid-November, added Suwal.

Likewise, 6,808 tourists from European countries visited the district from mid-April to mid-May, 11 from mid-May to mid-June, 1,117 from mid June-mid-July, 2,251 from mid-July to mid-August, 2,710 from mid-August to mid September, 5,647 from mid-September to mid-October and 9,276 from mid-October to mid-November.