Tourism Info Nepal

Lumbini Welcomes Over 1.2 Million Visitors in 2024, Marking Significant Tourism Growth

Lumbini Welcomes Over 1.2 Million Visitors in 2024, Marking Significant Tourism Growth

In 2024, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini, attracted approximately 1.2 million visitors, according to the Lumbini Development Trust. A total of 1,172,304 tourists visited Lumbini during the year, reflecting an increase of 173,366 visitors compared to the 998,938 tourists in 2023. This marked the first time post-COVID that both domestic and international tourist numbers surpassed the one-million mark.

Domestic Tourism Trends

Of the total visitors, 759,990 were domestic tourists, representing a 15.81% increase from the previous year. However, this figure is still lower than pre-COVID levels. In 2019, 1.55 million domestic tourists visited Lumbini, with similar trends in 2017 and 2018. The decline in domestic tourism compared to pre-pandemic years highlights the ongoing challenges in fully recovering the sector.

Surge in Indian Visitors

Indian tourist arrivals set a new record in 2024, with 300,889 Indian visitors reported. This is a significant jump from 266,510 visitors in 2023 and far exceeds the pre-COVID figure of 206,171 Indian tourists in 2019. Historically, Indian tourist numbers were below 200,000 annually before 2019, making this growth a notable achievement.

Growth in Third-Country Visitors

Lumbini also saw a 46.36% rise in third-country tourists, with 114,425 international visitors recorded in 2024. This is a substantial increase from 76,210 passport-holding foreign visitors in 2023 but still below the pre-pandemic high of 174,015 in 2019.

The majority of third-country visitors in 2024 hailed from Sri Lanka, with 23,569 tourists, followed by Thailand (21,496), China (13,012), Myanmar (10,517), Vietnam (8,500), and South Korea (4,646).

Recovery and Prospects

While the tourism sector in Lumbini shows promising recovery signs, it still falls short of the pre-pandemic peak of 1.55 million visitors in 2019. The steady growth in Indian and third-country tourists indicates a positive trajectory, suggesting Lumbini’s potential to regain its status as a prominent global pilgrimage and cultural tourism destination. Efforts to promote Lumbini internationally and improve infrastructure are essential to sustain this growth and attract more visitors in the coming years.

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