SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, JAN 17 -
Two days after the official launch of Nepal Tourism Year-2011 (NTY-2011), there comes news likely to boost the morale of the NTY-2011 Implementation Committee officials and tourism entrepreneurs. Tourist arrivals by land increased by almost 18 percent in 2010.
The Department of Immigration statistics show that a total of 153,757 tourists entered Nepal via land routes in 2010, against 130,634 in 2009. This figure, however, does not include the number of Indian tourists, as their arrivals by land routes are not included in the country’s tourism data.
Total arrivals—via both air and land routes—in 2010 reached over 600,000. Arrivals by air in 2010 touched an all-time high mark of 448,769. This is the first instance in 12 years that tourist arrivals crossed the 400,000 mark.
According to the department, the highest number of arrivals via land routes in 2010 was from Sri Lanka, followed by Thailand, China, South Korea, the US, and United Kingdom. A total of 44,080 Sri Lankan tourists visited Nepal via land routes last year.
Although the arrivals by land increased significantly in 2010, the figure is still smaller
than that in 2007 when 165,992 visitors
entered Nepal via land routes. Arrivals by land dropped to 125,616 in 2008, but recovered marginally in 2009.
Of the total arrivals by land, 66.37 percent of tourists entered the country through Bhairahawa. According to the department, Bhairahawa saw a whopping 106 percent rise in the arrivals as compared to last year. Arrivals through Bhairahawa, the gateway of Lumbini, amounted to 102,059 in 2010 as compared to 49,356 in 2009.
Travel trade entrepreneurs attributed this rise to the increment in the number of pilgrims. “Buddhist pilgrims in Lumbini are increasing by the day. The country has been receiving a huge number of these pilgrims who come to Lumbini after visiting Bodhgaya, Saarnath and other Buddhist shrines in India,” said Ram Kazi Koney, managing director of Gandaki Travel.
The figure shows that the tourists’ purpose of entering Nepal through Bhairahawa is to visit Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha.
The pilgrim market is gaining momentum since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Maoists and government. However, travel trade entrepreneurs say that Nepal is yet to tap the pilgrim market’s potential. “Thai Airways operates direct flights to Bodhgaya in India and a huge number of pilgrims are responding to Indian packages. Despite being the birthplace of Buddha, visitors end their tours in Nepal, which yields less benefit,” said Koney.
To exploit the pilgrimage tourism potential, the government has planned to develop Bhairahawa Airport as a regional international airport. The government move comes with visitors’ increasing interest in Lumbini.
Tourist arrivals by land routes in 2010
Top five source countries
Country Numbers of tourists
Sri Lanka 44,080
Thailand 20,351
China 17561
South Korea 5,015
The United States of America 3,916
Major entry points
Entry Point Numbers
Bhairahawa 102,059
Kodari 36,348
Kakarbhitta 6,064
Kanchanpur 1,247
Birgunj 1154
Source: The department of immigration
