India and Chinese tourists will dominate tourism in Nepal

Nepal

Nepal tourism is trying to make a comeback and India and China are the revenue sources for the country. The country has overcome the impact of the earthquakes in April and May and has declared a “Readiness Months Period” from the month of June to August which is a preparatory period to boost tourism in its most fetched months from September to March.

The country is ready with its tourism attractions which include adventure, cultural and spiritual tourism. Though the road to the Kailash Mansarover is out of bound for tourists as they have been badly damaged in the earthquakes.

Nepal welcomes more Indian than Chinese tourists. Roughly 1.77 million Indian visitors arrived in Nepal in 2014 and 1 million Chinese in the same period. India has 40 flights both international and domestic connecting India to Nepal. Four flights operate from China to Nepal.

India has allowed its employees to include Nepal as a destination to visit under the existing Leave Travel Concession (LTC) scheme. Most tourists come from the South of India. A move which has been greatly welcomed by the Nepal tourism ministry.

Though China has not yet given an approved destination status to Nepal, but tourists from the country have been visiting the destination in good numbers.

The Buddhist circuit is the chief draw for the Chinese. Nepal is making special efforts in improving the sites associated with Lord Buddha and Tillorakou. The birth place of the Prince Siddhartha at Lumbini is of prime interest. Khunawah, Khudan and Sunauli, the area of the Sakya dynasty is also of great interest.

The country is focusing on rebuilding its tourism with plans of an international airport in the next three years at Bhairahawah. There are talks of setting cost effective railway network between the two countries. The Administrative Chief of the NTB, Ramesh Kumar Adhikari observed that Nepal his making significant attempts to put its tourism back in track.