Nepali children play with the Buddhist prayer bells in the Mt. Everest region in Nepal March 30, 2006. The number of tourists to Nepal slipped last year as visitors were scared off by Maoist rebel activity and the industry faces a bleak future since a four-month truce was called off this week, officials said. In 2005, 277,129 tourists visited the Himalayan kingdom -- home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, including Mount Everest -- down nearly 4 percent from the previous year, the Nepal Tourism Board said. Picture taken March 30, 2006. REUTERS/Gopal Chitrakar