International tourist arrivals via air registered a decline of 4.4 percent in October this year compared to the same period last year.

Altogether 36,851 visitors entered Nepal in the month of October, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said.

Visitors from Malaysia increased by 8.9 percent, Japanese by 12.7 percent and South Koreans by 57.1 percent. Likewise tourists from European countries like France grew by 16.6 percent, Norway 17.5 percent and Spain 7.9 percent. Tourists from USA too increased by 4.8 percent growth.

However, arrivals suffered losses from regions like SAARC, registering 15.9 percent decline, Europe by 2.6 percent, China by 34.7 percent, Singapore by 52.7 percent and Thailand 29.9 percent.

“Putting all the development in perspective and having a bird’s eye view of the trend, growing peace and stability in the country is sure to create a favourable impression followed by all around optimism,'” the NTB statement said, adding, “This would certainly culminate in enhancing the destination image. Follow-up programmes for image-building exercise is already in place.”

However, the NTB has not pointed out the reason behind the downturn in tourist arrivals.

NTB hopes that the promotional campaigns it recently launched in India and Europe based on the new tourism brand would bear a positive result. Moreover, collaborative promotional campaigns in alliance with the existing airlines and imminently operating airlines­ like GMG Bangladesh, Korean Air, Air Arabia, Etihad, Orient Thai and Sri Lankan Airlines is expected to explore new horizons and add new dimensions to Nepalese tourism scenario in the coming days.