According to statistics of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) Immigration Office, a total of 42,716 foreign tourists visited the country via air in February.[break]
Although all major markets recorded positive growth, arrivals from China, which was recording the highest growth till January, declined by 23.1 percent during the review period, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said in a statement on Friday.
A total of 3,226 Chinese nationals visited the country in February, down from 4,193 recorded in February, 2011.
Though arrivals from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan declined by 12.4 percent, 16 percent and 23.8 percent respectively, the South Asian segment recorded positive growth of 20.4 percent due to healthy rise in arrivals from India - the major tourist generating market for Nepal. A total of 11,093 Indian nationals visited Nepal via air in February, a rise of 28.8 percent compared to arrival figures of February, 2011.
Likewise, arrivals from Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand increased by 33.2 percent, 19.8 percent, 31.5 percent and 7.9 percent respectively during the review period.
The European market also observed positive growth of 17.5 percent in February, compared to February, 2011. A total of 11,000 tourists from Europe visited Nepal during the review period.
Total arrivals over the first two months of 2012 increased by 20.2 percent to 85,000, compared to figures of the same period last year, according to the statement.
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