Total tourist arrival in the country via air in 2009 recorded a marginal growth of 1.1 percent over the arrival figure of 2008, according to Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

A total of 378,12 tourists visited Nepal in 2009, up from 374,661 registered in 2008.

Arrivals from China increased by a whopping 51.4% in December. Visitors from other Asian countries excluding the SAARC countries also saw an upward spiral. According to NTB, tourist arrivals from South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand registered a growth of 25.1 percent, 7.8 percent, 22 percent and 26.5 percent respectively.

The aggregate tourist arrival from Asian segment, other than South Asia, posted a growth of 19.4 percent in December and 10.1 percent in 2009.

Arrivals from Pakistan grew by 8.2% but the arrivals from India and Sri Lanka declined by 5% and 31.5% respectively in December.

Likewise, the number of visitors form European countries registered an overall growth of 10.1% in December and 4.5% in 2009.

Arrivals from UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Austria also saw a growth. However, the number of visitors from Spain, Denmark and Norway saw a marginal decline.

According to NTB, over 75,058 trekkers visited Annapurna region in 2009 while 1,769 trekkers visited the Manaslu region.