KATHMANDU, Jan 23: Though total tourist arrivals fell by 30 percent in 2015 mainly due to earthquake, Tarai unrest and Indian blockade, number of trekkers during the period fell by only 6.05 percent compared to figures of 2014.
Data compiled by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) shows number of free individual tourists (FITs) enjoying trekking in Nepal went up by 1.87 to 15,140 in 2015. Of them, 239 were from SAARC countries.
Last year, NTB had issued Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) cards to 15,127 trekkers, including 239 from SAARC countries.
NTB issues TIMS card to FITs, while TAAN distributes TIMS card to trekkers traveling in groups.
The data reflects…
