Despite the political unrest in Nepal, tourists arriving via air in February increased by 13 percent as compared with the same month last year, the Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ministry of Nepal said in Kathmandu Thursday.

A total of 15,776 tourists visited Nepal in February this year as compared to a total of 14,001 last year, the ministry said in a statement.

Of the total tourist arrivals, 4,393 tourists were from India compared to 3,266 in February last year. Tourists arriving from third countries increased by 6 percent.

The number of Japanese tourists entering the country has increased by a striking 130 percent. Likewise, Austrian tourists increased by 29 percent, Spanish by 63 and Swedish by 30 percent.

However, tourists from the Netherlands decreased by 29 percent, while tourists from Britain, Italy and New Zealand decreased by 47 percent, 20 percent and 16 percent respectively, according to the ministry.

The number of tourists visiting Nepal decreased by 2.54 percent in 2005 as compared to 2004 due to the political instability and conflict in the country.

Tourist arrivals by air inched down by 3.9 percent in 2005. Some 277,130 tourists visited the country by air during this period, as compared to 288,356 tourists in 2004.

Source: Xinhua