Press Release by Nepal Tourism Board:

The arrival figure released by Immigration Office, TIA has shown that visitor arrivals to Nepal increased by 9.6 % with total 23502 visitors in June 2007. The European market has recorded a strong increase by 39 %, keeping on the ascending trend of arrivals from this segment in each month of this year. Indian market recorded a negative growth of 12.8 %, nevertheless this market alone contributed more than 50 % percent in the total arrivals. Overall, the Asian market registered a commendable upsurge in arrivals with a notable rise of 289.5% from china, 235.4 % from Tiawain and 11.7 % from Japan.

• Buy Tibetan handicrafts and artefacts in the hugely impressive Bodnath Stupa, a centre of Tibetan exile culture, a few kilometres from Kathmandu. Alternatively, visit the lively bazaar in the hill town of Gorkha, the ancestral home of the Shah Dynasty and residence of the original Gurkha soldiers.

• Go on an elephant ride in the Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal’s first national park, which is a jungle overflowing with wildlife.

• Take a scenic flight over Mount Everest. Most of the domestic airlines arrange flights in light aircraft. Flights are also available from Pokhara and other locations west of the capital, flying over the spectacular Annapurna range.