Issuing a press statement, NTB said the year ended with positive notes in the sense that arrivals from China witnessed an encouraging surge. Arrivals from China increased by a whopping 51.4 percent in December. Visitors from other Asian countries, excluding SAARC countries, also increased. 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, registered a growth of 19.4 percent in December and 10.1 percent in 2009.

Arrivals from Pakistan grew by 8.2 percent but the arrivals from India and Sri Lanka declined by 5 percent and 31.5 percent respectively in December. Likewise, arrivals from European countries registered an overall growth of 10.1 percent in December and 4.5 percent in the year 2009. Visitors from UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Austria also saw a growth. However, arrivals from Spain, Denmark and Norway posted a marginal decline.

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

With the signing of comprehensive peace agreement in 2006, the number of tourist arrival continues to increase.

Tourist arrival to Nepal has increased in all twelve months of 2009. The growth in tourist arrival was contributed by a robust growth from China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

In the SAARC region, arrivals from Bangladesh and Pakistan registered growth. However the arrivals from India decreased compared to the same month last year.

European countries also recorded impressive growths. Arrivals from France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain and Denmark all increased. The only market which has not seen high growth
was the UK.

Tourist arrivals from New Zealand and Canada also registered good growth. The arrivals from the US remained stable.


Recovery in the arrivals to Nepal in the beginning of second half of 2009 is in line with the onset of recovery from recession. As the world economy comes out of the global recession, tourism activities are forecast to expand as a result of rebounding consumer confidence. However, as advanced economies are projected to expand sluggishly, the impact of recovery in tourism sector might be realized slowly.

This is the third consecutive year Nepal has witnessed positive growth in the international tourist arrivals. Recovery in the arrivals to Nepal in the beginning of second half of 2009 is in line with the marginal improvement observed in some of the economies.

As Nepal is in the process to welcome a million tourists, what is required is peace and tranquility. Tourism industry is a very sensitive industry; it cannot survive in case of anarchy and disorder. Nepal has advantages as well as possibility to make all things possible since the country has immense natural and cultural treasure to sell to the international tourism market. This is what Nepal Tourism Board is doing to make the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 success.