Despite the political unrest in the country, tourists arriving via air in February increased by 13 percent as compared to same month last year.

According to data of the Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ministry, a total of 15,776 tourists visited Nepal this February as compared to a total of 14,001 last year.

Of the total tourist arrivals, 4,393 tourists were from India compared to 3,266 last February. Similarly, tourists arriving from third countries increased by six percent.

The number of Japanese tourists entering in the country has increased by a striking 130 percent. Likewise, Austrian tourists increased by 29 percent, Spanish by 63 and Swedish by 30 percent.

However, tourists from Netherlands decreased by 29 percent, while tourists from Britain , Italy and New Zealand decreased by 47, 20 and 16 percent respectively, according to the ministry.

The number of tourists visiting the country decreased by 2.54 percent in 2005 as compared to 2004 due to the political instability and conflict in the country.

Tourist arrivals by air inched down by 3.9 percent in 2005. Some 277,129 tourists visited the country by air during this period, as compared to 288,356 tourists in 2004.