Nepal Welcomes Over 1.2 Million Foreign Tourists in FY 2025/26, India Remains Top Source Market

Kathmandu- Nepal recorded the arrival of 1,209,357 foreign tourists during the fiscal year 2025/26 (FY 2082/83 BS), reflecting continued growth in the country’s tourism sector. According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), India remained Nepal’s largest source market, contributing 311,531 visitors, followed by the United States with 111,325 arrivals and China with 109,892.

NTB’s latest international tourist arrival data shows that Indian visitors accounted for approximately 25.76 percent of total foreign arrivals during the fiscal year. The United States ranked as the second-largest source market, while China secured the third position.

Other major source markets included Bangladesh (58,163), the United Kingdom (56,649), Australia (53,195), Sri Lanka (43,211), Bhutan (36,289), Myanmar (30,737), Germany (29,296), Thailand (27,201), Japan (25,762), and Malaysia (25,640).

The highest monthly tourist arrivals were recorded in Kartik (October–November), when 124,829 foreign visitors entered Nepal. This was followed by Chaitra (March–April) with 119,390 arrivals, Falgun (February–March) with 114,152, and Ashoj (September–October) with 111,780 visitors.

To strengthen its presence in key international markets, the Nepal Tourism Board intensified promotional campaigns, particularly in neighboring India and China. During the fiscal year, NTB organized more than 12 tourism promotion programs across major Indian cities, including Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, and New Delhi. Overall, the board conducted more than 40 international promotional events to showcase Nepal as a travel destination.

In the final three months of the fiscal year, NTB also organized a series of cross-border tourism marts and fairs along Nepal’s southern plains bordering India, stretching from Jhapa in the east to Kanchanpur in the west. The initiative aimed to safeguard tourism infrastructure investments in the Terai region while boosting visitor inflows through land border entry points. Officials say the campaign contributed to a noticeable increase in cross-border tourist arrivals.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, Hikmat Singh Air, said the positive growth was driven by sustained international marketing efforts, expanded air connectivity, and stronger collaboration with the private sector.

“The tourist arrival figures for FY 2025/26 clearly indicate that Nepal’s tourism industry has moved beyond post-pandemic recovery and is entering a phase of sustainable growth,” Air said. “We will continue strengthening targeted promotions in both our traditional and emerging source markets to position Nepal as a year-round destination.”

He also emphasized that China represents one of Nepal’s largest untapped tourism markets, calling for more effective sales missions and stronger business-to-business (B2B) engagement. Air added that Nepal plans to expand regular international sales missions in high-potential markets such as China, the United States, Australia, and Bangladesh through closer cooperation with the private sector under the FY 2026/27 (2083/84 BS) budget.

Highlighting the government’s declaration of Health Tourism Year 2027, Air expressed optimism that Nepal would attract even more international visitors in the current fiscal year. He said the Nepal Tourism Board will continue focusing on attracting high-spending tourists, encouraging longer stays, and expanding tourism promotion in both established and emerging international markets.