KATHMANDU, Jan 1: Tourist arrivals to Nepal via air posted slower growth of 9.8 percent in 2012, compared to arrivals figures of 2011. Number of tourists had increased by 21.4 percent in 2011 which was celebrated as Nepal Tourism Year (NTY).
According to statistics of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), a total of 598,204 foreign tourists entered the country via aerial route in 2012.
Tourism entrepreneurs, who were hoping to achieve the target of one million visitors set for NTY 2011 in 2012, are disappointed with the slow growth. They pointed out lack of effective publicity campaigns and political instability as the major factors affecting tourist arrivals.
The South Asia market, which had posted encouraging growth last year, disappointed this year with the growth rate limited at 10 percent. Arrivals from the region started suffering from May, according to the statistics.[break]
Nepal welcomed highest number of tourists in October, followed by March and April. Number of tourists from South Asia had increased by 60 percent in March.
With the dissolution of Constituent Assembly (CA) in May, tourist arrival started slowing and it continued till September. Tourist arrivals declined by 7.3 percent in October. Though things improved a bit in November, the month posted meager growth of 2.2 percent.
Bharat Joshi, resident manager of Hotel Yak and Yeti, said the government decision to hold CA election in November affected tourist arrivals in the peak season.
Tourism entrepreneurs like Joshi attributed the slowed growth to lack of effective promotional campaigns in major tourist generating markets. “Promotional campaigns could have helped boost growth rate, particularly in India. Many Indian tourists are diverting to other destinations in South East Asia,” Joshi said, pointing out poor air connectivity as the other reason behind slow growth.
The statistics shows total arrivals from Asia, other than South Asia, grew by 15.1 percent during the year. The number of Chinese tourists posted the highest growth rate of 17.6 percent during the year. More than 53,000 Chinese tourists visited the country in 2012.
The European market saw minimal growth rate of 4.5 percent compared to last year. Nepal welcomed around 161,000 European tourists in 2012, according to the statistics.
“Arrivals from European market suffered because of prolonged economic crisis in the Euro Zone countries,” Suraj Lamichhane of Sita World Travels, said. “The economic crisis in Europe affected tourist movement globally in 2012.”
Likewise, tourist arrivals from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA grew by 24 percent, 20.3 percent, 7.5 percent and 4.9 percent, respectively.
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