Over one million tourists visit in 11 months

Nepal welcomed 1,055,533 foreign tourists in the first 11 months of 2024, surpassing last year’s figures by 5.4% but achieving 87.87% of 2019 levels, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). November saw 114,501 arrivals, with India leading at 19,915 visitors, followed by the USA (10,981) and China (9,458). The highest monthly arrivals were in March (128,167) and October (124,393).

Despite progress since the COVID-19 downturn, tourist numbers remain below NTB’s 2024 target of 1.32 million, hindered by natural disasters, airport issues, and poor infrastructure. NTB Director Mani Raj Lamichhane highlighted the need for stronger marketing efforts, particularly targeting markets like the USA, China, and India, to boost future growth.