Chinese, Indians among shortest stayers

As per the ministry’s data, American tourists spent 22.40 days in the country. Nepal received 47,355 visitors from the US in 2013, among them 37,318 first time visitors. The stats showed that 27,242 Americans visited Nepal for holiday and 7,686 for trekking and mountaineering, the second highest after tourists from the UK. There were 35,668 British visitors last year who spent an average of 20.25 days in Nepal. The ministry’s data showed that Nepal received 113,173 Chinese visitors last year. Surprisingly, 93 percent of the Chinese tourists were first time visitors. The ministry said that around 80 percent of the Chinese arrivals (89,827 individuals) were in Nepal for holiday and pleasure, followed by trekking and business. Meanwhile, the longest stayers in Nepal last year were tourists from Norway. They spent an average of 23.74 days in the country, down from 25.49 days in the previous year. The Norwegians were followed by visitors from the US, Australia, Pakistan, Belgium, Switzerland and the UK. The figures show that Indian tourists are gradually being attracted towards trekking and mountaineering activities in Nepal. The number of Indian trekkers and mountaineers doubled to 6,386 last year from 3,430 in the previous year. Among those who like trekking and mountaineering on the slopes of the Nepal Himalaya, visitors from India come fourth after the UK, the US and France. Around 79 percent of the Indian arrivals visited Nepal for the first time last year. According to Nepal Tourism Statistics 2013 released by the Tourism Ministry on Thursday, Indian tourists spent 8.67 days in Nepal in 2013 on an average, down from 9.34 days in the previous year. Although the length of stay of Chinese tourists rose marginally to 9.48 days in 2013 from 8.82 days in 2012, it is still one of the shortest. In 2010, visitors from the northern neighbour were among the longest stayers averaging 15.63 days. Nepal received 180,974 Indian visitors in 2013, among whom 167,282 arrived by air and the rest overland. According to purpose of visit, 64,367 came for holiday, 23,125 for pilgrimage and 21,193 for official purpose.Tourist arrivals from India and China swelled in 2013, but in terms of the visitors’ length of stay, the source markets rank fourth and sixth, respectively, from the bottom.Countries with highest length of stay Country Average stay (in days) Norway 23.74 US 22.40 Australia 21.03 Pakistan 21.00 Belgium 20.50 Switzerland 20.32 United Kingdom 20.25 Canada 19.51 Denmark 19.36 New Zealand 18.76