Tourist arrivals both via air and land has increased by 22.39 percent, recording a total number of 593,542 visitors during the first 10 months (January to October) of the current year 2011 compared to the same period in the year 2010.

According to the Department of Immigration, tourist arrivals via air is up by 21.7 percent to stand at 443,108 and via land increased by 24.57 percent to stand at 150,434 between January to October 2011.

The government has targeted one million tourists during 2011 (including tourists via air 700,000 and the rest by land).

During the period, visitors from India recorded the highest number of 131,350 including 121,962 visitors via air.

Similarly, Sri Lankan visitors came in second totaling 59,856 arrivals including 58,348 by land while some 56,640 Chinese visitors arrived here including 34,897 via air during the period.

Likewise, visitor arrival from US stands at 34,461 including 31,100 via air and UK records 30,827 visitors including 27,761 by air between January and October. nepalnews.com