Nepal Welcomes Over 940,000 Foreign Tourists in 2024; October Alone Sees Arrival of 124,000 Tourists

Nepal’s tourism sector has seen promising growth in 2024, welcoming over 940,732 foreign tourists in the first ten months, according to the latest data from the Nepal Tourism Board. October alone recorded 124,393 arrivals, reflecting a 6.4% increase over the same period last year, when 117,306 tourists visited. This recovery highlights the resilience of Nepal's tourism industry, now at 92.96% of pre-COVID levels, with 2019 being the last benchmark year, which saw 134,096 tourists in October. Director Mani Raj Lamichhane of the Tourism Board expressed optimism, noting that despite an unexpected dip in October due to prolonged rainfall and adverse weather at the beginning of the month, upcoming months are anticipated to bring a surge in visitor numbers.

Analyzing the data regionally, arrivals from India and China, Nepal’s top neighboring markets, have decreased over recent months. October saw 16,313 tourists from India, a 13% drop from the previous month, with numbers for Chinese visitors also declining to 7,750 in October from higher counts in August and September. Industry experts attribute this reduction to challenging monsoon conditions, which could have impacted travel plans. Despite these drops, visitors from other regions, particularly the U.S., showed increased interest, with a notable 12.88% rise in American arrivals in October, totaling 16,023. Other major contributors included the United Kingdom, with 8,019 tourists; Australia, with 6,929; and Germany, with 6,018 arrivals, indicating a strong demand for Nepal’s renowned travel experiences.

Throughout the year, March remained the highest point for tourism with 128,167 visitors, contrasting with July, which recorded the lowest turnout at 64,599 tourists. This variance underscores the seasonal appeal of Nepal’s trekking routes, adventure tourism, and natural sites, which attract peak crowds during spring. Other high-performing months included May, with 90,211 tourists, and January, with 79,100 visitors, each indicating a solid upward trend despite the impact of early-year monsoon disruptions. September recorded a respectable 96,305 arrivals, followed by August with 72,719 tourists.