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The just concluded Nepal tourism year, celebrated over 2011, recorded the highest number of tourist arrivals ever, with a total of 1,45,338 visitors flying in from India alone. South India contributed 50 per cent of the total Indian arrivals, with a substantial number belonging to the category of pilgrimage tours, Mr Dhruba Rai, Senior Manager, Corporate Services, Nepal Tourism Board, said.
No visa requirements, good air connectivity, with almost 76 flights per week to India, easy accesses by road, year-round pleasant weather and a favourable exchange rate for Indian currency are some of the major factors that contributed to Nepal's popularity as a favourite holiday destination for India, he said at a road-show here.
‘Visit Lumbini' year
Keeping up the momentum of 2011, he said Nepal is celebrating yet another event — Visit Lumbini Year 2012. This is an open invitation to the world to converge and work towards creating a peaceful society. The objective is to make Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, a centre of global attraction.
The road-show also gave out details of tourist and pilgrimage destinations, recreation, adventure activities, shopping, Nepali cuisine, connectivity and different aspects touching Nepal tourism.
Mr Lekh Nath Bhusal, another official in the Nepal Tourism Board, pointed out that Nepal has established itself as the gateway to Mount Kailash-Manasarovar. A highly increasing trend is seen for Muktinath Darsan in Jomsom area, a 15-minute flight from Pokhra Valley, on Nepal's western side. Pokhra Valley is about 125 miles west of Kathmandu and the jump-off point for Annapurna trekking.
Everest view
Weather permitting, he said, Pokhra affords a panoramic view of the Himalayan range — from Dhaulagiri to Himalchuli, an 87-mile horizon that encompasses the mystical Machhapuchare and Annapurna peaks.
The Mount Everest flight from Kathmandu offers spectacular views of Himalaya, the closest possible aerial views of Mount Everest and other “eight-thousanders” (eight peaks of more than 8,000 metres located in Nepal), he added.
The road-show was supported by Jai Matadi Tours and Travels, Worldwide Asian Travel and Tours and Shrestha Holidays.
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