Due to changed political atmosphere in Nepal, the number of tourists arriving Nepal via air increased 13.8 percent in June, compared to the same period of last year, according to Tuesday's report from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil aviation.

A total of 21,444 tourists came to Nepal during the month against 18,840 visitors' arrival in June of last year.

The number of Indian visitors went up by 23 percent, while the non-Indian arrivals declined by a mere 0.7 percent, the report said, adding that a total of 14,189 Indian visitors came to Nepal in June against 11,532 tourists in last June.

The non-Indian tourist arrivals stood at 7,255 during the month, while the figure was 7,308 in June last year.

The arrivals particularly from short-haul market like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region and South East Asia, however, remained negative.

The number of tourist arrivals from SAARC region, except India, continued to drop and the other Asian markets have also decreased during the month, the report added.

Arrivals from China and Japan came down by 10.7 per cent and 16. 2 percent separately.

On the other hand, the total tourist arrivals for the first half of 2006 is satisfactory, although it is lower than anticipated.

The total arrivals from January to June this year registered a growth of 8.9 percent to 121,595 tourists against 111,705 arrivals during the same period of last year, according to the report.

Source: Xinhua