Nepal has seen more tourists arrive since January than in all of 2021. In 2021, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) recorded over 150,000 foreign visitors. For instance, in May 2022 alone, the NTB counted nearly 53,608 tourists.&nbsp;However, the arrivals remain far lower than pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, Nepal welcomed a total of 1.3 million foreign tourists arriving by plane. This doesn't include those arriving by land from India.&nbsp;It is estimated that 1 tourist visit creates 10 employment opportunities in Nepal.

According to the Nepal Rastra Bank, the tourism sector provides employment for about 20 per cent&nbsp;of Nepal's workforce and contributes to 3&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of gross domestic product (GDP). &nbsp;

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A decline in tourist arrivals particularly from China turned out to be the major factor behind the overall slump, as China had remained the second largest source market after India for Nepal's tourism industry for more than a decade till 2020, showed the data.&nbsp;

Since January, only 1,626 Chinese nationals have visited Nepal in comparison to 2019, 1,69,543 tourists arrived.&nbsp;

Before the pandemic, China was one of the major sources of tourism in Nepal, but strict pandemic measures keep tourism from China cut off. Pre-pandemic, there had been four direct flights from China.

On June 2, 2022, Nepal began its first direct flight from China-Nepal after over two years.&nbsp;

The Director of the Board said the number of tourists would have been shooting had China resumed flight services.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/after-developing-technical-glitch-nepali-airlines-plane-returns-to-kathmandu-safely-484133">Also read |&nbsp;After developing technical glitch, Nepali airline plane returns to Kathmandu safely</a>

"Nepal's tourism sector of course suffered our economy depends a lot on tourism. I am very happy to say that once the third wave was over and things started to get better, our numbers started growing very well. As in the past, India leads the pact. So, we are getting lots of Indian tourists, they are coming in huge numbers. One thing that is very interesting about the Indian market is that earlier they used to come for only religion and shopping but now we have a huge segment of Indians coming for adventure activities, Nandini Lahe Thapa, Director of the Nepal Tourism Board told WION.

Speaking on the challenges the country is facing while the tourism sector recovering, "The industry had a very hard time to keep with all the losses. There have been some brain drain and skill drain in the intervening years because a lot of our skilled staff moved to other countries like Maldives, Middle East. Now it's a question of who is there and training for new capacity building for new people," she added.

Nepal's tourism and hospitality industry continue to face shortages as the majority of employees left the sector during the pandemic.

Many tour guides and service staff either changed their profession or left the country in search of work.

The NTB said that the tourism sector is set to recover gradually as more workers return. However, people remained worried about a possible return of pandemic restrictions or the spread of monkeypox.&nbsp;

"I have been working in the tourism sector for 36 years. This is the only source of my livelihood and income for my family. During COVID, the situation was so stressful that I cannot express it. The workers involved in the tourism sector lost their jobs and some are still jobless. Due to a lack of tourists and work, many were forced to leave Kathmandu and return to their hometown," Kundan Chhetri, trek and rafting tour guide told WION.&nbsp;

Binod Gautam, an artist in Kathmandu has been involved in stone crafting for 15 years. The influx of tourists directly impacts his business. He says locals do not purchase his craft and the only plausible way to make money is through tourists. To complete a piece of stone it takes one week to sometimes 3 months.&nbsp;

"For 15 years I have been part of this business. Before COVID, the business was going fine but the pandemic has changed everything. It became extremely difficult and I lost my income for almost two years. During which, I had to return to my village to my family. After COVID, the sales of my craft are slowly picking up," Gautam told WION.&nbsp;

According to the Director of Research, Planning, and Monitoring of NTB Mani R Lamichhane, in 2019, Nepal welcomed 1,197,191 tourists. The proportion of tourists from these countries are India (21.2 per cent), China (14.2 per cent), the US&nbsp;(7.8 per cent), the UK (5.1 per cent), and Sri Lanka (4.7 per cent).&nbsp;

In 2021, 230,085 tourists arrived to the Himalayan nation while in 2021, only 150,962 visited Nepal, a drop of 34.4 percent from 2020.&nbsp;

However, with COVID restrictions gradually being eased down, Nepal since January, has already welcomed 190,703.&nbsp;

Even after COVID, India tops the list in the number of tourists arrival in Nepal.&nbsp;

The top five tourists arrival of 2022 are from India, the US, the UK, Australia and Bangladesh.&nbsp;

Watch WION's live TV here:

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Nepal has seen more tourists arrive since January than in all of 2021. In 2021, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) recorded over 150,000 foreign visitors. For instance, in May 2022 alone, the NTB counted nearly 53,608 tourists.

Nepal has seen more tourists arrive since January than in all of 2021. In 2021, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) recorded over 150,000 foreign visitors. For instance, in May 2022 alone, the NTB counted nearly 53,608 tourists. However, the arrivals remain far lower than pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, Nepal welcomed a total of 1.3 million foreign tourists arriving by plane. This doesn't include those arriving by land from India. It is estimated that 1 tourist visit creates 10 employment opportunities in Nepal. According to the Nepal Rastra Bank, the tourism sector provides employment for about 20 per cent of Nepal's workforce and contributes to 3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). A decline in tourist arrivals particularly from China turned out to be the major factor behind the overall slump, as China had remained the second largest source market after India for Nepal's tourism industry for more than a decade till 2020, showed the data. Since January, only 1,626 Chinese nationals have visited Nepal in comparison to 2019, 1,69,543 tourists arrived. Before the pandemic, China was one of the major sources of tourism in Nepal, but strict pandemic measures keep tourism from China cut off. Pre-pandemic, there had been four direct flights from China. On June 2, 2022, Nepal began its first direct flight from China-Nepal after over two years. The Director of the Board said the number of tourists would have been shooting had China resumed flight services. Also read | After developing technical glitch, Nepali airline plane returns to Kathmandu safely "Nepal's tourism sector of course suffered our economy depends a lot on tourism. I am very happy to say that once the third wave was over and things started to get better, our numbers started growing very well. As in the past, India leads the pact. So, we are getting lots of Indian tourists, they are coming in huge numbers. One thing that is very interesting about the Indian market is that earlier they used to come for only religion and shopping but now we have a huge segment of Indians coming for adventure activities, Nandini Lahe Thapa, Director of the Nepal Tourism Board told WION. Speaking on the challenges the country is facing while the tourism sector recovering, "The industry had a very hard time to keep with all the losses. There have been some brain drain and skill drain in the intervening years because a lot of our skilled staff moved to other countries like Maldives, Middle East. Now it's a question of who is there and training for new capacity building for new people," she added. Nepal's tourism and hospitality industry continue to face shortages as the majority of employees left the sector during the pandemic. Many tour guides and service staff either changed their profession or left the country in search of work. The NTB said that the tourism sector is set to recover gradually as more workers return. However, people remained worried about a possible return of pandemic restrictions or the spread of monkeypox. "I have been working in the tourism sector for 36 years. This is the only source of my livelihood and income for my family. During COVID, the situation was so stressful that I cannot express it. The workers involved in the tourism sector lost their jobs and some are still jobless. Due to a lack of tourists and work, many were forced to leave Kathmandu and return to their hometown," Kundan Chhetri, trek and rafting tour guide told WION. Binod Gautam, an artist in Kathmandu has been involved in stone crafting for 15 years. The influx of tourists directly impacts his business. He says locals do not purchase his craft and the only plausible way to make money is through tourists. To complete a piece of stone it takes one week to sometimes 3 months. "For 15 years I have been part of this business. Before COVID, the business was going fine but the pandemic has changed everything. It became extremely difficult and I lost my income for almost two years. During which, I had to return to my village to my family. After COVID, the sales of my craft are slowly picking up," Gautam told WION. According to the Director of Research, Planning, and Monitoring of NTB Mani R Lamichhane, in 2019, Nepal welcomed 1,197,191 tourists. The proportion of tourists from these countries are India (21.2 per cent), China (14.2 per cent), the US (7.8 per cent), the UK (5.1 per cent), and Sri Lanka (4.7 per cent). In 2021, 230,085 tourists arrived to the Himalayan nation while in 2021, only 150,962 visited Nepal, a drop of 34.4 percent from 2020. However, with COVID restrictions gradually being eased down, Nepal since January, has already welcomed 190,703. Even after COVID, India tops the list in the number of tourists arrival in Nepal. The top five tourists arrival of 2022 are from India, the US, the UK, Australia and Bangladesh. Watch WION's live TV here:

International tourists arrivals pick momentum in Nepal

Nepal's central bank has banned the use of Indian currency notes of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 denominations, a move that could affect Indian tourists visiting the Himalayan nation where Indian currency is widely used.

Nepal Rastra Bank on Sunday issued a circular prohibiting Nepali travellers, banks and financial institutions from holding or carrying and trading Indian bank notes higher than Rs 100, the Kathmandu Post reported.

The central bank said in its circular letter that Indian currency of 200, 500 and 2,000 denominations cannot be carried and used for trading, it said.

Under the new regulation, Nepali citizens cannot carry these denominations to countries other than India. Similarly, Nepalis are also not allowed to bring such notes from other countries. Indian notes of 100 or below, however, are allowed for trading and conversion, the bank's circular reads.

On December 13, the Cabinet had decided to publish the notification in the Nepal Gazette not to allow people to carry Indian currency notes above 100 denominations in Nepal.

The ban has been criticised by travel traders and entrepreneurs, saying that it would hurt the country's burgeoning tourism at a time when the government has announced 'Visit Nepal' campaign with an objective to draw at least 2 million tourists in 2020.

Since a majority of Indians come to Nepal over land from border towns, it is difficult for them to convert their currency to dollar or Euro, they said.

The overland Indian visitors' survey showed that 1.2 million Indians came to Nepal through the surface route while 160,132 travelled via air. The average length of stay of Indian tourists coming overland was 5.8 days. Average expenditure per visitor was as much as Rs 11,310, the paper said.&nbsp;

The Indian government introduced new banknotes of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 denominations after the demonetisation of old notes worth Rs 500 and 1,000 in 2016.

However, the move hit countries such as Nepal and Bhutan where Indian currency is widely used.

Nepal Premier K P Sharma Oli said earlier this year that demonetisation hurt the Nepalese people and added that he would raise the matter with Indian leaders.

People have been using the new Indian currency in Nepal for nearly two years now.&nbsp;

Nepal's central bank has banned the use of Indian currency notes of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 denominations, a move that could affect Indian tourists visiting the Himalayan nation where Indian currency is widely used.

Nepal's central bank has banned the use of Indian currency notes of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 denominations, a move that could affect Indian tourists visiting the Himalayan nation where Indian currency is widely used. Nepal Rastra Bank on Sunday issued a circular prohibiting Nepali travellers, banks and financial institutions from holding or carrying and trading Indian bank notes higher than Rs 100, the Kathmandu Post reported. The central bank said in its circular letter that Indian currency of 200, 500 and 2,000 denominations cannot be carried and used for trading, it said. Under the new regulation, Nepali citizens cannot carry these denominations to countries other than India. Similarly, Nepalis are also not allowed to bring such notes from other countries. Indian notes of 100 or below, however, are allowed for trading and conversion, the bank's circular reads. On December 13, the Cabinet had decided to publish the notification in the Nepal Gazette not to allow people to carry Indian currency notes above 100 denominations in Nepal. The ban has been criticised by travel traders and entrepreneurs, saying that it would hurt the country's burgeoning tourism at a time when the government has announced 'Visit Nepal' campaign with an objective to draw at least 2 million tourists in 2020. Since a majority of Indians come to Nepal over land from border towns, it is difficult for them to convert their currency to dollar or Euro, they said. The overland Indian visitors' survey showed that 1.2 million Indians came to Nepal through the surface route while 160,132 travelled via air. The average length of stay of Indian tourists coming overland was 5.8 days. Average expenditure per visitor was as much as Rs 11,310, the paper said. The Indian government introduced new banknotes of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 denominations after the demonetisation of old notes worth Rs 500 and 1,000 in 2016. However, the move hit countries such as Nepal and Bhutan where Indian currency is widely used. Nepal Premier K P Sharma Oli said earlier this year that demonetisation hurt the Nepalese people and added that he would raise the matter with Indian leaders. People have been using the new Indian currency in Nepal for nearly two years now.

Nepal's Central bank announces ban on Indian rupee notes above Rs 100

Nepal has asked the RBI to declare newly circulated Indian currency notes of denominations higher than Rs 100 legal tender in the country, according to a media report on Sunday.

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the country's central monetary authority, has written a letter on Friday to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), asking it to make Indian bank bills Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 legal tender in Nepal, The Himalayan Times reported.

The NRB has asked India's central bank to issue a notification under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), which will make Indian banknotes of denomination more than Rs 100 legal tender in Nepal and to provide the exchange facilities to get bills of such denominations, it said.

The RBI has only allowed the circulation of Indian currency notes of Rs 100 and less in Nepal and provides exchange facilities for bills of this denomination.

Before the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 bank notes in November 2016, the RBI had issued a FEMA notification allowing Nepali citizens to carry Rs 25,000 worth of such bank notes.

After the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 Indian currency notes, circulation of new banknotes of denominations Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 was started by the Indian government.

The RBI did not issue the notification for the newly circulated bank notes, making their use illegal in Nepal.

"As the RBI was not allowing the circulation of the higher denomination Indian notes, we had to ban their use in Nepal to protect our citizens," Chief of Foreign Exchange Management Department at the NRB.

"However, after we received complaints from people in various sectors, especially those who have to visit India frequently, we asked the Indian central bank to make such bank notes legal tender in Nepal."

The circulation of such notes in Nepal, according to Dhungana, will solely depend upon the RBI and Indian government's will.

Also the NRB, in the same letter, has asked the Indian central bank to provide exchange facility to Nepalis holding the banned Indian currency in the country.

The central bank has said the country's banking system, including banks, financial institutions and NRB, hold Indian currency denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 worth Rs 48 million.

But the actual stock of banned Indian bank notes is expected to be much more because Nepalis were previously allowed to carry Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 Indian bank notes worth up to Rs 25,000.

Also, those residing in areas bordering India usually stash Indian notes of larger denominations as they have to go to Indian markets frequently to buy goods.

To make exchange facility available to Nepalis holding banned Indian currency, NRB has already prepared software to keep a database of names of people who sought exchange facility, the serial number of bills of 00 and Rs 1,000 submitted by the people, and their identification numbers, among others. But the Indian government is yet to take a decision, it said.

Nepal has asked the RBI to declare newly circulated Indian currency notes of denominations higher than Rs 100 legal tender in the country, according to a media report on Sunday.

Nepal has asked the RBI to declare newly circulated Indian currency notes of denominations higher than Rs 100 legal tender in the country, according to a media report on Sunday. The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the country's central monetary authority, has written a letter on Friday to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), asking it to make Indian bank bills Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 legal tender in Nepal, The Himalayan Times reported. The NRB has asked India's central bank to issue a notification under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), which will make Indian banknotes of denomination more than Rs 100 legal tender in Nepal and to provide the exchange facilities to get bills of such denominations, it said. The RBI has only allowed the circulation of Indian currency notes of Rs 100 and less in Nepal and provides exchange facilities for bills of this denomination. Before the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 bank notes in November 2016, the RBI had issued a FEMA notification allowing Nepali citizens to carry Rs 25,000 worth of such bank notes. After the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 Indian currency notes, circulation of new banknotes of denominations Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 was started by the Indian government. The RBI did not issue the notification for the newly circulated bank notes, making their use illegal in Nepal. "As the RBI was not allowing the circulation of the higher denomination Indian notes, we had to ban their use in Nepal to protect our citizens," Chief of Foreign Exchange Management Department at the NRB. "However, after we received complaints from people in various sectors, especially those who have to visit India frequently, we asked the Indian central bank to make such bank notes legal tender in Nepal." The circulation of such notes in Nepal, according to Dhungana, will solely depend upon the RBI and Indian government's will. Also the NRB, in the same letter, has asked the Indian central bank to provide exchange facility to Nepalis holding the banned Indian currency in the country. The central bank has said the country's banking system, including banks, financial institutions and NRB, hold Indian currency denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 worth Rs 48 million. But the actual stock of banned Indian bank notes is expected to be much more because Nepalis were previously allowed to carry Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 Indian bank notes worth up to Rs 25,000. Also, those residing in areas bordering India usually stash Indian notes of larger denominations as they have to go to Indian markets frequently to buy goods. To make exchange facility available to Nepalis holding banned Indian currency, NRB has already prepared software to keep a database of names of people who sought exchange facility, the serial number of bills of 00 and Rs 1,000 submitted by the people, and their identification numbers, among others. But the Indian government is yet to take a decision, it said.

Make Rs 200, 500, 2,000 notes legal in our country: Nepal writes to RBI