Nepal has witnessed a significant surge in tourism, with more than 700,000 foreign tourists visiting the country in the first eight months of 2024. According to the latest data from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), a total of 720,334 tourists arrived in Nepal from January to August this year.
This marks an 8.3% increase in tourist arrivals compared to the same period last year. The month of August alone saw 72,719 tourists, a notable rise from the 67,153 visitors recorded in August 2023.
NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane expressed optimism about the growing number of tourists, attributing the increase to effective tourism promotion programs and improved infrastructure. “We are confident that the numbers will continue to rise, especially with more visitors expected from neighboring countries,” he said.
The highest number of tourists in August came from India, followed by China, the United States, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The government has set an ambitious target of attracting 1.6 million foreign tourists by the end of the fiscal year, supported by the Tourism Strategy Plan (2016-25) and the Visit Nepal Decade initiative.
The tourism sector’s recovery post-COVID-19 pandemic is evident, with continuous growth in foreign tourist arrivals. In 2023, Nepal welcomed a total of 1,014,885 tourists, and the trend appears to be on an upward trajectory.