Tourists arrivals from Belahiya transit point increase by 35 percent

The arrivals of tourists entering via Belahiya transit point of Bhairahawa has increased by 35 percent in the month of February this year compared to the same period of previous year. Belahiya is the transit point which passes the greatest number of tourists via land route in the country.

The number of the tourist arrivals has reached 11,783 in the month of February this year with an increment of 3,066 compared to the same month of the previous year.  According to Immigration Office of Belahiya Rupandehi, 8,717 tourists had entered in Nepal through the route in February of 2006. In January, 6494 tourists had entered via the same route.

The number of the Srilankan tourists is the highest with the total arrivals of 5150 while Thailand stands in second with the arrivals of 2088 tourists.

Similarly, the arrivals of the Japanese, South Korea and Myanmar stand at 989, 759, and 558 respectively. Likewise, 215 tourists have come from United Kingdom in the month of February.

Officiating chief of Immigration Office Belahiya, Gyan Kumaru Bhusal said the arrivals of the tourist might increase in coming days stating that the series of incidents like Terai unrest, strike and protest impeded the arrivals of the tourist that could have been higher in past month.

Though arrival of the tourist has increased, more than a half of total have received the free visa facility. According to Immigration Office, 6,549 tourists have received free visa in February of 2007.

The government of Nepal has decided to provide visa free of cost to the citizen of SAARC countries for two months. Similarly it has been providing visa free of cost to Japanese on the occasion of golden jubilee of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relationship up to 2007 march and to the citizen of other countries for three days.

Rs. 32, 24,885 has been collected from visa charge in the month of February.

The popular destinations of the tourists entering via Belahiya transit point are Lumbini including other cities like Pokhara, Chitawan and kathmandu.