Nepal’s tourism sector experienced a surge in Chinese tourists in January 2025, while the number of Indian visitors declined. According to data from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), nearly 80,000 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal during this period. Among them, 20,485 were Indian nationals, 8,191 were Chinese, and the remaining visitors came from other countries.
India remains the largest source of tourists to Nepal. However, the number of Indian visitors dropped by 15.1 percent compared to the same month last year, decreasing from 24,139 to 20,485. Most Indian tourists enter Nepal via road routes through border areas, but the NTB records only those arriving by air.
China ranks as the second-largest source of tourists to Nepal. In January, 8,191 Chinese tourists visited the country, marking a 12.7 percent increase compared to the previous year. While the number of Indian visitors has fallen, the influx of Chinese tourists has grown steadily.
The United States follows China as Nepal’s third-largest source of tourists. In January, 8,063 US nationals arrived, representing a 14.9 percent increase from the same period last year.
According to the NTB, 5,406 tourists arrived from Bangladesh, 4,301 from Australia, 3,756 from South Korea, 3,521 from the United Kingdom, 3,219 from Thailand, 2,768 from Bhutan, and 1,570 from Japan.
