KATHMANDU, June 22 : The World Travel and Tourism Council’s annual research report indicates that Nepal’s tourism sector generated Rs 327.9 billion in revenue and supported 1.19 million jobs in the previous year.
The report forecasts that Nepal will generate 1.22 million jobs in 2024. The jobs generated by the tourism sector is 15.2 percent of the total, a report in Kathmandu Post said.
The country welcomed more than a million tourists between January and December last year, following China’s border reopening and record arrivals from India.
The London-based organization reported that travel and tourism contributed 6.6% to the country’s GDP in 2023, which stood at Rs 358.9 billion.
The economic activity is primarily driven by sectors like hotels, travel agencies, airlines, and passenger transport services, excluding commuter services, and includes restaurants and leisure industries directly supported by tourists.
The annual report indicates that domestic visitors, who spent Rs210.8 billion last year, were expected to spend Rs226.8 billion this year, accounting for 71.5% of total tourism sector spending.
Nepalis started touring their own country in significant numbers after the 2015 earthquake, according to hoteliers.
Apart from traditional leisure destinations like Pokhara and Chitwan, the famous Annapurna Base Camp trail, Mardi and Manaslu treks were the big draw for domestic adventurers. But the Covid pandemic had put a damper on tourism.
Domestic airlines are experiencing strong passenger traffic in destinations like Pokhara, Bhairahawa, and Bharatpur due to ongoing road expansion projects.
Dipendra Karna, communication manager,Nepal’s largest domestic carrier, Buddha Air, has reported a doubling in the number of flights operating from Pokhara International Airport in the past six months.
According to the report, international visitors spent an estimated Rs83.9 billion last year. This spending is projected to grow to Rs102.6 billion in 2024.
Of the total expenditure, 83.4 percent was spent on leisure and the remaining on business.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board, the country’s tourism promotional body, the arrival numbers crossed the million mark for the first time in four years in 2023.
The government, through the budget, has announced to draw 1.6 million foreign visitors this year.
September-November is Nepal’s peak tourist season. (UNI)
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