Nepal has once again failed to reach its all-time highest number of tourist arrivals. After welcoming a record 1,197,191 tourists in 2019—the highest ever—the country came close in 2025 but fell short of breaking the record.
According to data released by the Nepal Tourism Board, citing the Department of Immigration, a total of 1,158,459 foreign tourists visited Nepal in 2025. This figure is three percent lower than in 2019. However, compared to 2024, tourist arrivals increased by 3.9 percent.
In 2024, Nepal had welcomed 1,147,548 tourists. Tourist arrival growth was at its peak in 2018, when the growth rate stood at 18 percent—the highest in the Asia-Pacific region. Since then, the growth rate has declined sharply.
Nepal Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Deepak Raj Joshi said that the Gen Z movement in September last year, followed by two natural disasters, adversely affected tourist arrivals. Unseasonal rainfall in October and November disrupted daily life across the country, which in turn impacted arrivals, particularly from neighboring countries.
Joshi said that without these disruptions, Nepal could have attracted between 1.25 million and 1.3 million tourists this year. However, he added that the tourism sector rebounded strongly after the movement and succeeded in sending a positive message for the future.
“No matter what kind of movement takes place, Nepal is a country built for tourism, and tourists are safe here. The swift recovery has conveyed that message,” Joshi said. “This is a positive sign for the future of Nepali tourism.”
In December 2025 alone, Nepal received 98,190 tourists. In comparison, 92,033 tourists visited Nepal in December 2024, while the figure stood at 100,866 in December 2019.
Declining Trend from SAARC, Improvement from the Middle East
Tourist arrivals from SAARC countries declined in 2025. A total of 408,103 tourists arrived from SAARC nations, which is 2.3 percent lower than in 2024. SAARC countries remain Nepal’s largest tourism source market, accounting for 35.2 percent of total arrivals.
Arrivals from other Asian countries showed marginal improvement, with 253,311 tourists visiting Nepal in 2025 compared to 252,567 last year. From the Oceania region, 53,695 tourists arrived, up from 48,209 in the previous year.
Tourist arrivals from the Americas reached 135,503 this year, slightly higher than last year’s 134,105. European countries contributed 221,018 tourists, up from 214,045 in 2024. Arrivals from the Middle East improved to 20,504 from 16,648 last year.
From Africa, 4,320 tourists visited Nepal, slightly lower than last year’s 4,456. Arrivals from other regions totaled 62,005, compared to 59,692 in the previous year.
Continued Decline in Indian and Chinese Tourists
Nepal counts all Indian nationals entering by air as tourists, while Chinese visitors arriving by both land and air are classified as tourists.
According to the Tourism Board, arrivals from both India and China have been on a continuous decline. In 2025, Nepal received 292,438 Indian tourists, an eight percent decrease compared to 317,781 in 2024. However, compared to pre-COVID levels, Indian tourist arrivals are still on the rise.
Chinese tourist arrivals, meanwhile, have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Nepal welcomed 95,480 Chinese tourists in 2025—6.3 percent lower than in 2024 and 43.7 percent lower than in 2019, when 169,543 Chinese tourists visited the country.
Among SAARC countries, arrivals from Sri Lanka showed the highest growth, increasing by 24.2 percent to 37,550. Bangladeshi tourist arrivals also improved by 17.8 percent to 57,545.
Top 10 Source Markets for Nepal
According to the Nepal Tourism Board, India remains the largest source market, with 292,438 tourists in 2025. The United States ranks second, with 112,316 visitors.
China is third with 95,480 tourists, followed by the United Kingdom with 58,684. Bangladesh ranks fifth with 57,545 tourists.
Other major source countries include Australia (49,357), Sri Lanka (37,550), Thailand (30,243), Germany (30,227), and Japan (24,763).
Top 10 Countries by Tourist Arrivals in 2025:
- India – 292,438
- United States – 112,316
- China – 95,480
- United Kingdom – 58,684
- Bangladesh – 57,545
- Australia – 49,357
- Sri Lanka – 37,550
- Thailand – 30,243
- Germany – 30,227
- Japan – 24,763
Plans for 2026
CEO Deepak Raj Joshi said the Tourism Board plans to pursue more aggressive promotional campaigns in 2026 to accelerate growth. He noted that post-movement initiatives have yielded positive results and that the board will intensify social media campaigns and promotions through celebrities and international media.
The Tourism Board has also declared 2026 as the “ASEAN Tourism Year.” Under this campaign, Nepal aims to increase tourist arrivals from ASEAN countries by at least 50 percent in 2026. Currently, around 100,000 tourists visit Nepal annually from the ASEAN region, including countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
