Tourism in Nepal

{{refimprove|date=November 2010}} [[File:Hyat regency kathmandu.jpg|thumb|Hotel Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu]] '''[[Tourism]]''' is the largest [[industry]] in [[Nepal]], and the largest source of [[Foreign exchange market|foreign exchange]] and revenue. Possessing 8 of the 10 highest mountains in the world, Nepal is a hotspot destination for mountaineers, rock climbers and people seeking adventures. The [[Hindu]] and [[Buddhist]] heritage of Nepal, and its cold weather are also strong attractions.[[Image:Himalayas.jpg|thumb|350px|right|[[Perspective (visual)|Perspective]] view of the Himalaya and Mount Everest as seen from space, Nepal poses 8 of the 10 highest mountains in the world]]. ==Overview== Nepal is the country where [[Mount Everest]], the highest mountain peak in the world, is located. [[Mountaineering]] and other types of [[adventure tourism]] and [[ecotourism]] are important attractions for visitors. The world heritage [[Lumbini]], birthplace of Gautam Buddha, is located in southern Nepal, and there are other important religious pilgrimage sites throughout the country. [[File:Namche Bazaar under snow.jpg|thumb|[[Namche Bazaar]], Gateway to [[Mount Everest]] under snow]] The government of Nepal declared 2011 to be Nepal Tourism Year, and hoped to attract one million foreign tourists to the country during that year.[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/travel/2010-09/28/c_13533585.htm Nepal aims to attract 1 mln foreign tourists next year] Xinhua News Agency, accessed 21 November 2010 The tourist industry is seen as a way to alleviate poverty and achieve greater social equity in the country. The government of Nepal has also declared Lumbini Tourism Year 2012 to promote Lumbini - the birthplace of Lord Buddha. ==Statistics== In 2007, the number of international tourists visiting Nepal was 526,705, which was an increase of 37.2% compared to the previous year. In 2008, the number of tourists decreased by 5% to 500,277. [[File:Paragliding in pokhara.JPG|thumb|Paragliding above the city of [[Pokhara]] and the [[Phewa Lake]]]] In 2008, 55.9% of the foreign visitors came from Asia (18.2% from India), while Western Europeans accounted for 27.5%, 7.6% were from North America, 3.2% from Australia and the Pacific Region, 2.6% from Eastern Europe, 1.5% from Central and South America, 0.3% from Africa and 1.4% from other countries. Foreign tourists visiting Nepal in 2008 stayed in the country for an average of 11.78 days.[http://www.mof.gov.np/publication/budget/2010/pdf/chapter8.pdf Survey report], Government of Nepal, Ministry of Finance, accessed 21 November 2010 As of 2010, 602,855 tourists visited Nepal.[http://www.tourism.gov.np/uploaded/pdf/Nepal-Tourism-Statistics-2010-provisional-report.pdf Nepal Tourism Statistics 2010 Report], Government of Nepal, Ministry of Tourism, and Civil Aviation, accessed April 3rd, 2012. ==Wilderness tourism== According to Nepal's Ministry of Tourism, major tourist activities include wilderness and adventure activities such as Mountain biking, Bungy Jumping, rock climbing and mountain climbing, [[trekking]], bird watching, flights, paragliding and hot air ballooning over the mountains of Himalaya, exploring the waterways by raft, kayak or canoe and jungle safaris especially in the [[Terai]] region.[[File:Illam nepal.jpg|thumb|[[Illam]], tea capital of Nepal and one of the tourism hotpots in eastern Nepal]][[File:Elephant polo in nepal.jpg|thumb|The only international elephant polo in [[Chitwan National Park]]]] ==Religious sites== The major religion in Nepal is [[Hinduism]], and the [[Pashupatinath Temple]], the world's largest temple of [[Shiva]] which is located in Kathmandu, attracts many pilgrims and tourists. Other Hindu pilgrimage site include the temple complex in [[Swargadwari]] located in the [[Pyuthan district]], lake [[Gosainkunda]] near [[Dhunche]], the temples at [[Devghat]], [[Manakamana]] temple in the [[Gorkha District]], and [[Pathibhara]] near [[Phungling]]. [[Buddhism]] is the largest minority religion. The [[World Heritage site]] [[Lumbini]], which is traditionally considered to be the birthplace of [[Gautama Buddha]], is an important pilgrimage site. Another prominent Buddhist site is [[Swayambhunath]], the Monkey Temple, in Kathmandu. [[Muktinath]] is a sacred place for Hindus as well as Buddhists. The site is located in Muktinath Valley, [[Mustang district]]. ==References== {{reflist}} == External links == * {{Wikivoyage-inline|Nepal}} * [http://welcomenepal.com/ Official tourism website] * [http://www.tourism.gov.np/ Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation] {{Tourism in Asia}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Tourism In Nepal}} [[Category:Economy of Nepal]] [[Category:Tourism in Nepal| ]]