In line with projections of the Nepal Tourism Board, for the first time in 11 months, tourist arrivals bettered that of last year. The increase for November, up 2.6 percent, was due to increased arrivals from countries other than India. Arrivals from India dropped by 23.5 percent to 7,667 and that from third countries increased by 10.8 percent to 35,463. There was a 36 percent slump in Indian tourist arrivals between January-June, a fallout of the December 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines aircraft after takeoff from Kathmandu. NTB says December arrivals hinge on the outcome of the threatened strike by hotel workers.