KATHMANDU: Nepal expects foreign tourist arrivals in the scenic but troubled Himalayan kingdom will pick up after last week’s truce between the government and Maoist insurgents, industry officials say.

Nepal, wedged in the mountains between Asian giants China and India, is home to eight of the world’s 10 tallest peaks, including Mount Everest.

It also offers visitors ancient temples, luxury resorts, casinos and game parks.

But tourism has been hit hard by an increasingly violent Maoist revolt and political turmoil over the last few years.

Industry officials are confident things will change after last week’s truce between the rebels and a new, multi-party government, formed after weeks of mass protests against Nepal King Gyanendra’s absolute rule.

“We hope there will be a manifold increment in tourist arrivals from the coming season,” said Narendra Bajracharya, a top official of the Hotel Association of Nepal.

“Due to security concerns because of the revolt, tourism has really gone down dramatically,” he said.

Tourism accounts for about four per cent of Nepal’s Gross Domestic Product and officials said tourist arrivals fell from a peak of about half a million in 1999 to 277,000 last year.—Reuters