Kathmandu. In the fiscal year 2082/83, Nepal received 1,209,357 foreign tourists. According to Nepal Tourism Board, the highest number of tourists from India (311,531) were from India, followed by 111,325 from the United States of America and 109,892 from China.

According to the statistics of international tourist arrivals released by Nepal Tourism Board, India is the largest source market for Nepal. Out of the total arrivals, India’s share is about 25. 76 percent. India is followed by the US (111,325) and China (109,892).

Tourists from Bangladesh 58,163, the UK 56,649, Australia 53,195, Sri Lanka 43,211, Bhutan 36,289, Myanmar 30,737, Germany 29,296, Thailand 27,201, Japan 25,762 and Malaysia 25,640 tourists visited Nepal in the highest order.

In the last fiscal year 2082/083, the highest number of tourists visiting Nepal was 124,829. After that, 119,390 tourists arrived in March, 114,152 in February and 111,780 in September.

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has intensified its promotional programmes in the nearest source markets, India and China. In the financial year 082/083, more than 12 promotional programs were conducted in various cities of India including Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi. Likewise, more than 40 tourism promotion programs of Nepal were organized in the international market.

Similarly, in the last three months of the fiscal year 082/083, various cross-border and tourism marts and fairs were organized from Jhapa in the east to Kanchanpur in the west to secure the investment of tourism infrastructure in the Terai region of Nepal bordering with India. As a result, the number of tourists entering Nepal via the border area has increased significantly.

Acting Chief of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Hikmat Singh Auer, said the promotion of tourism in the international market, expansion of air access and collaboration with the private sector contributed to the positive growth of tourism in Nepal. “The arrival of tourists in the fiscal year 2082/83 BS has clearly indicated that Nepal’s tourism industry is moving towards sustainable growth from a revival of tourism,” he said. We will continue our endeavor to establish Nepal as an attractive destination throughout the year by making targeted promotions more effective in key source markets as well as new potential markets. ‘

Acting CEO Ayer said that although there is huge potential for tourist arrival in China, there is a need to make sales mission more effective to promote targeted tourism and expand business-business connectivity in China. “There is a need to conduct regular sales missions at the international level to strengthen our presence in new and high-potential source markets such as the US, Australia and Bangladesh, including China. “Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is moving ahead to immediately expand such programs in collaboration with the private sector through the budget of fiscal year 083/084 to make tourism promotion result-oriented,” Ayer said.

Stating that the government of Nepal has announced the Health Tourism Year 2027 this year, Ayer said that the number of tourist arrivals is expected to increase further in the current fiscal year. KATHMANDU: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has stated that it will further strengthen tourism promotion in new international markets along with traditional markets, increase the duration of stay and attract high spending tourists.