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| Tourist arrival likely to record an upsurge of almost 40 percent |
| 21-Oct-2003 |
KATHMANDU, Oct 15
If tourist-inflow remains consistent with the bookings for inbound international flights to Kathmandu for this October and November, the total tourist arrival during these months is likely to record an upsurge of almost 40 percent than in the similar months last year.
According to estimates of The Kathmandu Post based on the ticket bookings in major international airlines for the next two months, a total of 66,000 tourists will visit Nepal in these two months, as against the arrivals of 47,198 tourists in the similar period last year.
The average per flight bookings in the international airlines stands at 85 percent for the two month period, with the maximum inbound bookings of hundred percent in Gulf Air, Druk Air and Biman Bangladesh.
The tourist inflow forecast for the two months rests on current number of flights of different international airlines and the occupancy of each airline, as shown in the table (see below). Furthermore, it is assumed that 60 percent of these travelers are foreign nationals.
According to a survey of Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), all international airlines except those flying from Malaysia and Varanasi have an inbound booking of at least 80 percent of the total air-seat capacity for the next two months.
"We have been informed that the tickets from Europe and many parts of globe are not available for the next couple of months from now on," says J L Khanna, Managing Director of Yeti Travels. And this itself speaks on the pressure on airlines seat.
The pressure on air seats is not just because of an increase in number of foreign incoming but also due to a decline in the number of airlines in recent years. Singapore Airlines, Pakistan Airlines, Lufthansa Air are some among those that withdrew flights to Nepal.
Khanna thus says, the government has to work to increase the accessibility to Nepal. "The number of international airlines are requesting the government to increase the number of flights, and the government should consider such demands positively," he said.
The pressure on the airlines has not increased just since past few months. The cease-fire between the Maoists and government and the organization of golden jubilee celebration of first ascent on Mount Everest last May helped in promoting Nepal a lot.
"Nepal has witnessed a continuous growth in tourist arrivals since the past six months and the trend is likely to continue for next few months," says Tek Bahadur Dangi, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board.
He adds, the positive message that Maoists insurgency has not harmed foreign nationals despite the internal violence has been good enough to attract more tourists during this peak season.
Source: TKP |
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