KATHMANDU, Nepal- Tourists from Scandinavian countries were recorded as the longest stayers in Nepal.
According to the statistics compiled by Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Norwegian were the longest stayers spending an average of 25.49 days in the country last year. Their length of stay increased by 2.51 days as compared to the last year. In 2011, Finnish visitors were the longest stayers in Nepal.
According to the ministry, Nepal received 3,280 Norwegian tourists in 2012, among whom 2,369 were first time visitors.
The Norwegians were followed by visitors from Ireland, the US, Pakistan, Finland, the UK and Belgium.
Travel trade entrepreneurs said that the Scandinavians are fond of soft trekking activities and culturally interactive meetings
As per the Tourism Ministry’s arrival data, visitors from Myanmar and Bhutan were the shortest stayers averaging 2.20 and 2.28 days respectively. Short stayers from other countries are Bangladeshis (4.58 days), Vietnamese (4.67 days), Saudi Arabians (5.38 days), Sri Lankans (5.68 days) and Thais (6.88 days).
Meanwhile, arrivals from China have increased significantly, but the length of stay has declined. The average length of stay of visitors from China, which is Nepal’s second largest source market, dropped to 8.82 days last year from 10.14 days before. In 2010, Chinese visitors were among the longest stayers in Nepal averaging 15.63 days. The country received 71,861 Chinese tourists last year, among whom 64,275 were first time visitors.
