Tourist arrivals create new record in Nepal

Kathmandu, Dec 4: The number of tourists arriving in Nepal has created a new record this year.

In the last 11 months, 466,506 tourists have visited Nepal, which is higher than the annual arrival figure for the last seven years, media reports said.

''In the year 1999, the number of tourists visiting Nepal was 491,504. However, even in that year the total figure by the end of November was only 453,806", the Kathmandu Post reported.

''If tourist inflow continues at the current rate, Nepal may well receive over 500,000 tourists in 2007,'' said the newspaper.

''The country organised Visit Nepal Year in 1998 with the aim of bringing in 500,000 tourists that calendar year, but without complete success. The total number of arrivals was only 463, 684,'' the newspaper said adding that in the first 11 months this year, the number of visitors who came by air jumped by 28.6 per cent to 330,455, up from 257,054 last year.

Figures with the Immigration Department showed that 136,051 tourists entered Nepal by land routes during the last 10 months.

UNI