RUPANDEHI, Aug 12: The inflow of tourists in Lumbini has surged after the Covid-19 pandemic subsided.
According to the Information Branch of Lumbini Development Trust, altogether 560,325 people from Nepal, India and other countries visited Lumbini as of July 2023 this year. During the same period of 2022, a total of 465,979 tourists visited Lumbini.
According to this data, 94,346 more tourists visited Lumbini this year compared to last year. “Compared to last year, the number of tourists visiting Lumbini has increased enthusiastically,” said information officer Hari Dhwaj Rai.
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He said that along with Nepali and Indian nationals, there has been an increase in the number of tourists from third countries. According to him, 355,000 domestic tourists visited Lumbini as of July last year, and this year the number increased to 379,000.
Similarly, last year the number of Indian tourists was 160,000. This year, around 143,000 Indian tourists have visited Lumbini as of July end, said information officer Rai. According to him, the number of tourists with passports, i.e. tourists from countries other than Nepal and India, is very encouraging this year.
According to him, 3,975 tourists had visited Lumbini till July last year, and this year the number has increased to 36,997. This is an increase of 830 percent. He said that the number of tourists has increased as the travelers who were confined due to global travel restrictions during the Covid-19 period have gradually started going on tour.
Rai said that because of the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, tourists have come to Lumbini in search of peace. Foreign tourists visit Lumbini from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, South Korea and China. Apart from this, tourists from Germany and France also visited Lumbini. It is estimated that the number of tourists will increase by 20 percent by the end of 2023, considering the current influx of tourists.
