Visitor Arrivals in March 2009 (by air only) - April 01 2001
The figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) reveal that arrival figures in the month of March 2009, compared to the same month last year, have decreased by 17.6% to 33,005.

In South Asia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have registered growth by 12.3% and 29.6% respectively. However, India and Pakistan witnessed negative growth of 24.7% and 6.3% respectively in the current month.

Similarly, other Asian countries Thailand and Singapore maintained the upward trend with 132.3% and 50.2% of growth respectively. However, arrivals from Japan, South Korea and Malaysia have witnessed negative growth by 19%, 34.2% and 7.1% respectively. There has been a nominal decline of 0.8% in the arrivals from China which reflects the unfailing economic growth of the country compared to other tourist generating markets.

The entire European and Oceania regions registered negative growth of 19.8% and 11.6% respectively in comparison to the same month last year. Likewise, arrivals from Canada and United States of America also registered negative growths of 9% and 10.5% respectively.

The global recession is responsible for the decline in tourist arrivals worldwide as traveling is determined by disposable incomes, travel budgets and consumer confidence. United Nations World Tourism Organisation ( UNWTO ) expects international tourism to stagnate or even decline slightly by -1% to -2% throughout 2009.

A total of 32,945 foreign tourists departed from TIA in March 2009. The number of Nepalese arrivals stood at 44,607 while 46,051 Nepalese departed from TIA in March 2009.


'Nepal is my favorite place' says Wheeler - March 31, 2009

Lonely Planet Co-founder Mr. Tony Wheeler has named Nepal as his favorite place, according to a new book from the National Geographic. International celebrities were asked to name their favorite places in the world in the book called 'My Favorite Place on Earth'.

Mr. Wheeler is not alone to nominate Nepal as their favorite destination. Mr. Tony Wheeler is famous for travel books that he publishes known as Lonely Planet. In an interview with Wonderlust Travel magazine in 2003, Mr. Wheeler said Nepal was one of the few places he would love to come back again and again. There are many who yet have not seen Nepal but have portrayed Nepal as their dream destination. Nepal where culture and nature blend to create synergy, where mighty mountains compete with deepest gorge, where guests are created as gods, have always attracted tourists from far and wide.

Government of Nepal has declared Year 2011 as Nepal Tourism Year (NTY 2011). The remark of Mr. Wheeler on the onset of NTY 2011 will definitely help Nepal to be the country to visit and explore.

Minister Yami highlights Nepalese tourism at ITB Berlin - March 10, 2009

The 47th International Tourism Exchange (ITB 2009) started in Berlin, Germany from March 11th with more than 11,000 exhibitors and over 180 nations from around the globe. The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) along with seventeen private tourism entrepreneurs of Nepal are participating at the ITB 2009 which is being lead by Mrs. Hisila Yami, Hon'ble Minister for Tourism & Civil Aviation of Nepal. NTB organized a special program, Naturally Nepal Evening to promote Nepal Tourism Year 2011 and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and the Federal Republic of Germany on the evening of 11th March. More than 200 international media, tour operators and distinguished non resident Nepalese from Germany participated in the event. Speaking on the occasion, Hon. Minister Mrs. Yami shed light on the recent announcement made by the Nepal Government to celebrate 2011 as the Nepal Tourism Year with explicit aim of bringing one million visitors that year. She elaborated the various initiatives taken by the Government as well as other incentives offered to the trade to achieve the aim of one million tourists. She high lighted Nepal's historic political transformation towards the institutionalization of republicanism aimed at consolidating federal democratic republican state with a campaign of drafting new constitution along with an objective of bringing about a revolutionary change for improving the socio-economic condition of the people of Nepal. She particularly emphasized awakening of different ethnic, regional aspirations of the people which can showcase Nepal as multicultural destination. Minister Yami recalled the contribution of German tourists to Nepal's economy and requested earnest help from both the media and tour operators for further impetus to make Nepal Tourism Year 2011 aim a reality. On the occasion, Mrs. Yami also recited a poem she had penned in the plane while on her way to Berlin from Nepal. In the emotional poem titled Diversity is Destiny, she stressed on the fact that tourism would bridge the gap between poverty and prosperity. Welcoming the guests, Minister Consular at Nepal Embassy in Berlin Mr. Ganesh Dhakal pledged full cooperation from the Embassy to tourism promotion of the country. He requested everyone to contact the Embassy if they needed any assistance and wished everyone success at ITB 2009. Senior Director of Nepal Tourism Board Mr. Subash Nirola made a presentation high lighting Nepal's tourism attraction. He reiterated the fact that Nepal's tourism was on the rebound. Nepal's diverse cultural, natural and adventure attractions where the key for the Germans to visit Nepal. He emphasized on the initiatives already taken by NTB for NTY 2011 and he also requested support and assistance from both the media and travel trade in this regard. Dil Gurung, Hon Public Relation Representative of NTB in Germany delivered the vote of thanks. He emphasized that it was not only the responsibility of Government and NTB to fully dedicate to achieve goals of NTY 2011 but all Nepalese living in Nepal and abroad if we are to make a New Nepal. On the occasion a destination multimedia presentation on Nepal was shown along with various cultural dances depicting the diverse ethnic attraction of the country. Nepal's participation at ITB-2009 also coincides with the commemoration of 50th year of diplomatic relation between Nepal and Federal Republic of Germany and a high level business delegation from Nepal is in Germany wooing their counterparts for investments in tourism, hydropower, carpet and other areas of economic cooperation. On March 10th evening, the opening ceremony of ITB was held at the Messe ICC amidst a grand ceremony which was attended by Minister Hisila Yami, NTB and the Nepal delegation.

Naturally Nepal Evening Organized at ITB 2009 - March 12, 2009

The 47th International Tourism Exchange (ITB 2009) started in Berlin, Germany from March 11th with more than 11,000 exhibitors and over 180 nations from around the globe. The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) along with seventeen private tourism entrepreneurs of Nepal are participating at the ITB 2009 which is being lead by Mrs. Hisila Yami, Hon'ble Minister for Tourism & Civil Aviation of Nepal.

NTB organized a special program, 'Naturally Nepal Evening' to promote 'Nepal Tourism Year 2011' and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and the Federal Republic of Germany on the evening of 11th March. More than 200 international media, tour operators and distinguished non resident Nepalis from Germany participated in the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Hon. Minister Mrs. Yami shed light on the recent announcement made by the Nepal Government to celebrate 2011 as the Nepal Tourism Year with explicit aim of bringing one million visitors that year. She elaborated the various initiatives taken by the Government as well as other incentives offered to the trade to achieve the aim of one million tourists. She high lighted Nepal's historic political transformation towards the institutionalization of republicanism aimed at consolidating federal democratic republican state with a campaign of drafting new constitution along with an objective of bringing about a revolutionary change for improving the socio-economic condition of the people of Nepal. She particularly emphasized awakening of different ethnic, regional aspirations of the people which can showcase Nepal as multicultural destination. Minister Yami recalled the contribution of German tourists to Nepal's economy and requested earnest help from both the media and tour operators for further impetus to make Nepal Tourism Year 2011 aim a reality. On the occasion, Mrs. Yami also recited a poem she had penned in the plane while on her way to Berlin from Nepal. In the emotional poem titled Diversity is Destiny, she stressed on the fact that tourism would bridge the gap between poverty and prosperity.

Welcoming the guests, Minister Consular at Nepal Embassy in Berlin Mr. Ganesh Dhakal pledged full cooperation from the Embassy to tourism promotion of the country. He requested everyone to contact the Embassy if they needed any assistance and wished everyone success at ITB 2009.

Senior Director of Nepal Tourism Board Mr. Subash Nirola made a presentation high lighting Nepal's tourism attraction. He reiterated the fact that Nepal's tourism was on the rebound. Nepal's diverse cultural, natural and adventure attractions where the key for the Germans to visit Nepal. He emphasized on the initiatives already taken by NTB for NTY 2011 and he also requested support and assistance from both the media and travel trade in this regard.

Dil Gurung, Hon Public Relation Representative of NTB in Germany delivered the vote of thanks. He emphasized that it was not only the responsibility of Government and NTB to fully dedicate to achieve goals of NTY 2011 but all Nepalis living in Nepal and abroad if we are to make a New Nepal.

On the occasion a destination multimedia presentation on Nepal was shown along with various cultural dances depicting the diverse ethnic attraction of the country.

Nepal's participation at ITB-2009 also coincides with the commemoration of 50th year of diplomatic relation between Nepal and Federal Republic of Germany and a high level business delegation from Nepal is in Germany wooing their counterparts for investments in tourism, hydropower, carpet and other areas of economic cooperation. On March 10th evening, the opening ceremony of ITB was held at the Messe ICC amidst a grand ceremony which was attended by Minister Hisila Yami, NTB and the Nepal delegation. This year's official partner region for ITB 2009 was RUHR 2010 a departure from past tradition at ITB where countries were the featured partners. ITB 2009 continues until 15th March. Nepal Tourism Board along with the following Nepalese Tourism Companies are participating in ITB 2009:

Buddha Air
Dharma Adventures
Euro Asia Tours & Travels
Himalayan Encounters
Hyatt Regency Kathmandu
Lalit Mandap Travels & Tours
Luxury Adventure Nepal
Nature Trail Trekking
Royal Mountain Travel
Shiva Treks & Expeditions
Temple Tiger Group of Companies
The Dwarika's Group of Hotel & Resort
The Explore Nepal
The Malla Hotel
Tiger Mountain
Travel Makers Nepal
Yeti Travels