Tourist arrivals to Nepal via air in the month of June 2012 stood at 43,238, a rise by 16.2 percent as compared to arrival figures in the same month last year, as per the data released by TIA, Kathmandu. While arrivals from South Asian countries registered a modest growth of 12.2 percent, arrivals from other Asian countries recorded a massive increase by 45.8 percent in aggregate. Arrivals from China rose to 61 percent compared to the same month last year, while arrivals from Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand also registered a positive growth of 26.9 percent, 56.3 percent, 63.6 percent and 67.1 percent respectively. Arrivals from the European market registered a positive growth of 3.7 percent. Tourist arrivals from Australia, Canada and USA also showed an increase of 3.7 percent, 73.4 percent and 12.4 percent respectively. From January to June 2012 tourist arrivals via air to Nepal registered an increase by 19.8 percent to 294,019 as compared to the same period last year.

Tourist arrivals to Nepal via air continued to soar with May arrival figures showing an increase of 9.3 percent to 42,820 as compared to the same month last year. The figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) shows a robust growth in arrivals from Asia – India with 16.1 percent, China 10.2 percent, Japan 26.8 percent and Malaysia 31 percent. The European markets show a positive growth of 8.3 percent with arrivals from UK, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Russia and Czech Republic up by 9.2 percent, 17.9 percent, 11.2 percent, 8.5 percent, 5.1 percent, 104.1 percent, 24.8 percent and 41.2 percent, respectively. Arrivals from Australia and USA have also increased by 9 percent and 12.3 percent. From January to May 2012, tourist arrivals to Nepal via air have risen by 20.5 percent to 250,781.

CNNGO has come up with 50 great reasons for being a tourist. Though the reasons listed are not all great (some downright bizarre), the following had me nodding in assent.

25: You learn about the country you're visiting through experience, rather than National Geographic.

Very true! There’s an ocean of difference in reading about the place and to truly experience the place.

38: You get to mingle with a range of nationalities. Then escape them the next day.

Travelling offers you the rare opportunity of meeting people from the world over, which you won’t be able to sitting at home.

39: Your sense of appreciation for your surroundings returns.

Keep hearing this, especially from those who have been to the Nepal Himalaya.

49: Whether it’s sniffing out a great sunset spot or a backstreet bar or restaurant, there are always new discoveries on the horizon.

Like the Fly Emirates ad states, “…the more of our world we see, the richer we become”.

(Pic: Explore Himalaya)

Discover Nepal with Explore Himalaya

Looks like the aggressive promotion of destination Nepal during Nepal Tourism Year 2011 is bearing fruit. Business in Nepal’s tourism sector is booming. While there has been a significant increase in the number of tourist arrivals, popularity of the country’s trekking and climbing adventures (for which Nepal is truly known the world over) is soaring. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, a total of 337 climbers from various countries have received permission to climb Mt. Everest this spring, as compared to 263 in spring 2011. A total of 32 expedition groups have received permit from the Nepalese government to climb Mt. Everest. These expeditions have made the government richer by Rs. 293.15 million (received as royalty from the expedition groups). Other 77 expeditions  have received permits to climb other Nepalese peaks this spring.

Climbing Mt. Everest

Scale Mount Everest with Explore Himalaya

According to a report published by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Nepal's  Travel & Tourism sector is a major job provider with the sector accounting for 3.3 percent of the total employment in the country in 2011. The travel trade sector (hotels, travel agents, airlines and other passenger transportation services) generated 412,500 direct jobs and attracted capital investment of Rs 12 billion last year. Nepal received a total of 735,965 international visitors in 2011 and earned revenue worth Rs 28.6 billion. The total contribution of the travel and tourism sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at Rs 119.1 billion in 2011.The WTTC report ranked Nepal 34th in terms of travel and tourism direct contribution to employment and 127 in terms of attracting foreign visitors among 181 tourist destinations.The report further projected that the travel trade sector’s contribution to the country’s total employment will rise to 3.7 percent in 2012.