The number of visitors, especially from Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, South Korea and Vietnam coming to Lumbini through Belahia has steeply increased this year, according to statistics provided by the immigration office at the Nepal-India border point.

Around 29,000 tourists have entered the country through Belahia so far this year.

The arrivals rose from 4,275 in January to 13,575 in February, according to Pukar Shrestha, information officer at the immigration office. “The number this month until Saturday has reached around 11,115.”

“More than 90 percent of the visitors have come to visit Lumbini,” said Shrestha. “The Thai visitors have topped the visitors list so far.”

In 2019, Sri Lanka had topped the list with around 10,500 visitors.

Around 8,800 Thai visitors entered Nepal through Belahia this year, according to the immigration office data.

The figure, however, is still much lower in comparison to the pre-pandemic period.

“Tour packages need to be made by connecting new destinations to the Lumbini Circuit to prolong the tourists’ stay,” said Basu Ram Poudyal, immigration officer at Belahia.