Although the incoming number of tourists to Nepal recorded another double-digit dip in August, the decline is smaller than the previous two months and recovery is underway.

According to the latest figure compiled by the Nepal Tourism Board, the tourist arrival by air in August decreased by 26.3 percent with 18,383 incoming tourists, comparing with the same period last year.

However, tourists arrival in Nepal saw a huge decline of 29 percent and 56 percent in June and July following the royal massacre on June 1 in which most of the royal family members were killed.

The slight recovery due to improving political situation is encouraging to Nepal's tourism sector, but the continued double-digit drop in tourist arrivals has dampened the expectation of tourism entrepreneurs that the tourist arrival should start increasing from August, the beginning of peak season of tourism sector in Nepal.

(Eastday.com.cn 09/07/2001)