Nepal’s Tourism Reaches Historic High Despite Iran-US Tensions

Kathmandu-Nepal’s tourism industry has continued its record-breaking momentum despite growing geopolitical tensions between Iran and the United States, with Himalayan destinations particularly Mustang reporting an unprecedented surge in visitor arrivals.The country’s tourism sector has also recorded strong growth in mountaineering, religious travel, and private investment in hotels and tourism infrastructure.According to government data, Nepal currently has 350 hotels, ranging from one-star to five-star properties, offering a combined 16,613 rooms and 26,285 beds.

Mustang, one of Nepal’s most popular Himalayan districts, has emerged as a major attraction this season. The district headquarters, Jomsom, has witnessed a significant increase in tourist activity as both foreign visitors and Indian pilgrims continue to arrive in large numbers.According to Rajesh Prasad Gupta, Chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Area Conservation Office in Jomsom, 3,808 tourists entered Mustang on June 10, marking one of the busiest single days in the district’s tourism history.

Of the total, 250 were European tourists, while the majority were religious pilgrims from India. The figure does not include Nepali pilgrims visiting the region.

Tourism entrepreneurs say the ongoing heatwave in the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, coupled with summer school holidays, has encouraged thousands of Indian families to travel to Nepal in search of cooler weather.Improved road connectivity has also contributed to the rise in arrivals.

“Tourists leaving Pokhara in the morning can now reach Jomsom in around four and a half hours,” said Bimala Sherchan, President of the Hotel Association Mustang. “Indian visitors are even making the journey comfortably in electric vehicles.”

Visitors include families with children and elderly relatives, groups of female school teachers from India, as well as motorcycle enthusiasts seeking adventure along the rugged Kali Gandaki corridor.

Official statistics from the Mustang District Police Office show that the district received 705,754 domestic and international tourists during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year (through mid-June).

The figure is nearly equal to the 705,779 tourists recorded during the entire previous fiscal year, indicating that Mustang is on course to set a new annual record.

According to Police Inspector Santosh Basyal, the number of international visitors has increased by more than 62 percent compared to the same period last year.

By the end of the first 11 months of the fiscal year, Mustang had welcomed over 244,000 foreign tourists and more than 460,000 domestic visitors, reflecting sustained growth in one of Nepal’s leading mountain tourism destinations.

The strong performance comes despite concerns that escalating tensions in the Middle East could dampen international travel demand. Instead, Nepal’s tourism sector has continued to benefit from robust demand for adventure, religious, and nature-based travel, reinforcing the country’s position as one of South Asia’s fastest-growing tourism destinations.