September 01, 2001

KATHMANDU:  Total tourist arrivals from countries other than India was up 0.61 percent in the first eight months of 2001 as overall arrivals dropped by 6.51 percent during the period, Nepal Tourism Board said.

Third country arrivals stood at 152,974 compared to 152,053 the previous year. Total tourist arrivals by air until August was 200,208 compared to 214,154 the previous year.

Total tourist arrivals in August was 18,383, down 26.31 percent compared to August last year while third county arrivals dipped 15.76 percent in August. Indian arrivals stood at 3,650, down 51.05 percent compared to the same month in 2000.

Figures indicate the tourism industry has been mainly affected by non-arrival of Indians as arrivals from third countries gain momentum. Only 6,137 non-Indian tourists visited Nepal in June after the Narayanhiti Royal Palace massacre; there were 10,733 arrivals in July and 14,733 in August.