Nepal welcomes more European visitors

Demand from European visitors contributed to a rise in tourist arrivals in Nepal in August, according to reports.

Figures from the Nepal tourism board show that the number of travellers visiting the country by air rose by 17.8 per cent in the month.

The summer period is generally considered off-season for tourism in Nepal, suggesting that autumn and winter will see further growth for the industry.

Between January and August this year some 220,076 visitors arrived at Kathmandu international airport, a 33 per cent increase on the same period of 2006.

A statement from the tourism board said: "The European market registered a healthy growth of 36 per cent in August, which is generally considered the low season for international tourist arrivals."

It added: "Major European markets like the UK (32.5 per cent), Germany (38.9 per cent), France (32.9 per cent), Italy (34.2 per cent) and Spain (46.4 per cent) registered healthy growth."

Forecasts have suggested that Nepal is set to welcome nearly half a million tourists in 2007.

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