The figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) reveal that visitor arrivals in the month of June 2009, compared to the same month last year, have increased by 6% to 23,222.
 
In June this year, arrivals from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have witnessed positive growth of 16%, 4%, and 7% respectively. The Indian market, considered as a major market for Nepal, showed a decline of 6%. Consequently, in aggregate, the SAARC segment shows a 4% decline compared to the same month last year.
 
Similarly, Chinese arrivals have increased by 17% along with Thailand (37%), Malaysia (3%), South Korea (55%) and Singapore (8%). The other Asian market to decline in this month was Japan (4%). The other Asian segment has registered a positive growth of 18%.

By far the most encouraging results came from European markets, having registered an overall positive growth of 25%. Arrivals from UK have maintained the increasing trend with a growth of 15%. Nepal\\\\\\\'s major generating markets in West Europe: Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Norway all have posted significant increases of 27%, 30%, 34% and 17% respectively. However, France recorded 2% decrease in the arrivals.
 
Tourist arrivals from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United States of America have also registered positive growth of 27%, 5%, 11% and 21% respectively.
 
Nepal observed a remarkable growth of 15.8% in April 2009 but suffered a trough in May with a decline of 5% in the visitor arrivals to Nepal. Increase in the arrivals again in June reflects the volatile nature of international tourism and indicates towards the need of concerted and consistence marketing and promotional efforts. The key message is as simple as continuing to position Nepal itself to enhance its image. The increase in the arrivals also shows that the global economic downturn failed to deter the spirit of traveling by international visitors from visiting the tourist destinations of their choice.
 
Both Europe and North America markets have positive growth trend. However, despite the general acceleration, there is still a certain degree of uncertainty prevailing in the markets and the growth will depend on the evolving economic conditions.

A total of 28,210 foreign tourists departed from TIA in June 2009. The number of Nepalese arrivals stood at 40,337 while 45,541 Nepalese departed from TIA in June 2009.
 

Nepal Tourism Board
Press Release
July 2, 2009