Nepal’s tourism sector is experiencing a resurgence, with a notable 8.3% increase in tourist arrivals recorded for August 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. While this growth is encouraging, it is important to note that the recovery is still slower than hoped for, especially when compared to pre-pandemic levels.
India remains the top source of tourists
, contributing 35.5% of total arrivals in August, with 25,832 visitors. China and the United States follow closely, contributing 9.1% and 7.7% of total arrivals, respectively. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the United Kingdom also play a significant role in contributing to the growing tourism numbers.
The overall trend for the first eight months of 2024 is positive
, with a total of 720,300 visitors compared to 601,000 during the same period in 2023. March 2024 saw the highest influx of tourists, with a remarkable 128,176 arrivals. However, while these numbers indicate progress, they remain significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels. Nepal’s tourism industry, which experienced a steep decline during COVID-19, saw visitor numbers plummet to a mere 150,700 in 2021/22. This is a stark contrast to the 2019/20 fiscal year, which welcomed 1.19 million tourists before the pandemic brought travel to a near standstill.
