KATHMANDU, Nepal- The downward trend in foreign tourist arrival to Nepal brings worry for the tourism business operators. And according to the tourism experts, the declining curve is being considered as a major factor to leave its impact on tourist arrivals during the coming post monsoon season.
According to the statistics of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the tourism saw a overall 5.3 % decline during the period Jan-April 2013 compared to same period last year. Data of Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) said the aggregate foreign visitors number to Nepal through air route has come down nearly two Lakhs to 1,97,014.
European market, one of the most premium class and largest contributors to Nepal’s foreign tourist arrivals has shown a decline of nearly 15 percent as compared to the same period on 2012, revealed the TIA immigration data.
Decline in tourist arrivals have its impact on other tourism sectors like hotels as well. The downfall has been reflected in the premium class 5 star rated Hotel occupancy rate too. Hotel occupancy rate has started rolling down since Dec 2012. Many agencies have reported to have even less than 30% of bookings. But, the trend remained highly positive throughout whole 2012.
“It is not only the seasonal factor. Many other issues like shortage of power or oil as well as unstable political situation are also indirectly responsible behind these,” said Dayaram Bhandari, sales and marketing officer at Hotel Radisson Kathmandu, a 5 star rated hotel.
Nepal had called for Nepal Tourism Year 2011 expecting to bring one million tourists. According to the data about eight Lakh tourists visit Nepal during the year period. But the number restricted to around seven Lakhs in the year 2012. And with the trend and the record of visitors at TIA immigration, it is not the situation to fell content.
