A preliminary report of the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) states that 59,753 Sri Lankan tourists visited Nepal 2011 and 1,926 of them came via air. [break]
According to officials at the MoTCA, most of these tourists came to Nepal via Bhairahawa entry point to visit Lumbini in gratis visa and returned on the same day.
Chief statistician at MoTCA, Rabi Prasad Kayastha, said the report shows that majority of the Sri Lankan tourists returned to India on the same day without making any contribution to Nepal´s tourism. "Most of the Sri Lankans and some tourists from Thailand visit Nepal in similar fashion simply increasing the head count but making no contribution to Nepali tourism," he said.
Nepal Rastra Bank´s preliminary report on tourism income states that average expenditure per tourist per day in 2011 decreased to $40 from $43.20 in 2010.
Tourism entrepreneurs admit weaknesses on their part for the failure to make Sri Lankan tourists spend time and money in Nepal but complain the lack of direct flight between Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Since Sri Lanka and India have direct flights, most of these tourists visit Lumbini in the tour packages offered by India-based tour operators.
Suraj Lamichhane, deputy general manager at Sita World Travels said, Sri Lankan tourists visit Lumbini in Indian vehicles and return to India on the same day.
Immediate Past President of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) Arjun Sharma terms lack of direct flights between Colombo and Kathmandu and Nepal´s poor promotion as the main reasons for the situation. "Promotion at individual level doesn´t work so there should be institutional efforts especially from the Nepal Tourism Board to lure Sri Lankan tourists to Nepal," Sharma said.
Related story
Sri Lankan President says he will not sign MCC deal even in dre...
-1200x560-1776240217.webp)
