In the first nine months of 2024, Nepal welcomed over 800,000 foreign tourists, marking a significant milestone in the country’s tourism recovery efforts. According to the latest statistics from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), a total of 816,339 tourists visited Nepal between January and September. This figure reflects the growing appeal of Nepal as a tourist destination, as well as the gradual restoration of the global travel industry post-pandemic.
NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane reported that tourist arrivals have increased by 6% compared to the same period in 2023 and by 4% compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The rise in tourist numbers highlights the resilience of Nepal’s tourism sector, which has been striving to rebound after the challenges of recent years. However, there have been some fluctuations in the patterns of tourist arrivals. For example, while the number of tourists from India dropped in September compared to August, the number of visitors from China increased. Lamichhane further noted that tourist numbers from the U.S. and European countries have also shown growth, contributing to the overall positive trend.
In September 2024, 22,984 tourists arrived from India, a decrease from the 25,832 Indian tourists who visited in August. This decline is likely due to the monsoon season, which often impacts travel plans to Nepal. In contrast, Chinese tourist numbers rose, with 8,042 arrivals in September, up from 6,614 in August. The U.S. market also saw a notable increase, with arrivals more than doubling from 5,006 in August to 10,084 in September. Meanwhile, tourist arrivals from Sri Lanka remained steady, with 4,915 tourists visiting in September compared to 4,851 in August.
Tourism data from NTB further revealed that 72,719 tourists visited Nepal in August 2024. In comparison, September 2023 saw 91,012 arrivals, while September 2022 recorded 58,314 visitors. The impact of the pandemic is evident in the drastically lower number of tourists in September 2021, which stood at just 9,907. Pre-pandemic, in September 2019, Nepal welcomed 92,604 tourists.
Breaking down the monthly tourist arrivals in 2024, March recorded the highest number of visitors with 128,167, while July saw the lowest with 64,599. Other notable months include April, which saw 111,376 tourists, September with 96,305, and February with 97,426 visitors. The remaining months also showed promising numbers, with January welcoming 79,100 tourists, May seeing 90,211, June receiving 76,736, and August with 72,719 tourists.
These figures signal the continued recovery of Nepal’s tourism industry, driven by increasing international arrivals and the country’s enduring appeal as a destination for adventure, culture, and nature. With strategic efforts and a focus on expanding key tourism markets, Nepal is poised to strengthen its position as a top global destination in the coming years.
