Kathmandu, 01 Apr (HS): More than 50 percent of tourists received by Nepal in March were Indians. The number is increasing every month. The figures were released by the Nepal Tourism Board. The rise in the number of tourists has enthused the Board.

The Board Secretary Mistika Devkota said that Nepal welcomed a total of 128,167 tourists in March this year. Of them, more than 65,000 were Indians, who travelled to Nepal by air. The record of those coming by road is difficult to maintain.

Next to the Indians, Chinese people visit Nepal frequently. About 12 percent of the tourists were from China. The number of tourists from various countries as given by the Board is – China – 12,093; America – 10,773; UK – 7241; Shri Lanka – 5741; Germany – 5255; Thailand – 4345; France – 3249; Myanmar – 3131. In January about 80,000 tourists visited Nepal. The figure rose to 97,000 in February. The number of tourists may increase after the upgradation of Pokhra and Bhairhawa International Airports, Devkota said.

Hindusthan Samachar/ Ajay Mardikar/ Pankaj Das/ Sunit/Manoj