KATHMANDU: Nepal received more than 1.21 million foreign tourists during the fiscal year 2025/26, marking a strong recovery for the country’s tourism industry, according to the latest data released by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
The board’s statistics show that 1,209,357 international visitors traveled to Nepal during the fiscal year, injecting fresh optimism into the country’s tourism sector.
India remained Nepal’s largest source market, with 311,531 visitors, accounting for 25.76 percent of total tourist arrivals.
The United States and China ranked as the second- and third-largest source markets, contributing 111,325 and 109,892 visitors, respectively.
Bangladesh and the United Kingdom also remained among Nepal’s leading tourism markets, while Australia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, Germany, Thailand, Japan, and Malaysia recorded notable visitor arrivals during the year.
According to the NTB, Kartik (mid-October to mid-November) emerged as the busiest month for international tourism, with 124,829 foreign visitors arriving in Nepal. Tourist arrivals also remained strong during Ashoj (mid-September to mid-October), Falgun (mid-February to mid-March), and Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April).
The tourism board attributed the growth to its intensified promotional campaigns in key neighboring markets, particularly India and China.
During the last fiscal year, the NTB organized more than 12 promotional events across Indian cities, including Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi, while conducting more than 40 international tourism promotion programs worldwide.
The board said tourism marts and travel fairs organized in Nepal’s southern border regions significantly boosted the number of visitors entering the country via land routes.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, Hikmat Singh Air, said improved international air connectivity and stronger collaboration with the private sector had delivered encouraging results for Nepal’s tourism industry.
“Our tourism industry has now moved beyond recovery and is entering a phase of sustainable growth,” Air said. “We will further strengthen our sales missions in high-potential markets such as China, the United States, and Bangladesh.”
He added that the government, through the FY 2026/27 budget, will work closely with the private sector to introduce more result-oriented tourism promotion programs.
With the government already declaring 2027 as Nepal’s ‘Wellness Tourism Year,’ the board said its focus in the coming years will extend beyond increasing visitor numbers to encouraging longer stays and higher tourist spending.
Nepal is also pursuing a strategy to diversify its tourism markets by attracting travelers from both traditional and emerging destinations, while positioning the country as a year-round travel destination.
