A total of 124,393 tourists entered Nepal by air in October, reflecting a 6.04 percent increase in arrivals compared to the same month last year, when around 117,306 tourists visited. However, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) noted that the overall number of arrivals could have been higher if not for the disruptions caused by floods and landslides.
Mani Raj Lamichhane, director of NTB, explained that some tourists had to postpone their trips to Nepal due to road blockages caused by floods, which impacted access to various popular destinations. “The number of arrivals would have been higher if the roads had not been blocked,” Lamichhane said.
The floods and landslides, triggered by heavy rains on September 28, blocked all major roads leading out of Kathmandu, affecting tourism. As a result, some tourists canceled or altered their travel plans.
Tourist Arrivals by Country
According to NTB data, India remained the largest source of tourists, with 16,313 Indian visitors in October, making up 13.11 percent of total arrivals. However, this figure represents a decline from last October, when approximately 18,480 Indian tourists visited Nepal.
The United States ranked second in terms of tourist arrivals, with 16,023 American visitors in October—an increase from the 14,879 U.S. tourists recorded last year.
Other significant tourist markets included the United Kingdom, with 8,019 arrivals, followed by China with 7,750. Australia ranked fifth with 6,929 visitors, while Germany (6,018), France (5,485), Bangladesh (4,476), Sri Lanka (3,125), and Italy (2,635) also contributed to the growing number of international visitors.
Tourism Growth in 2024
So far in 2024, Nepal has welcomed approximately 941,032 tourists by the end of October, a 15.31 percent increase compared to the same period last year, which saw 816,000 arrivals. This positive growth trend underscores Nepal’s ongoing appeal as a popular travel destination despite recent challenges.
