Nepal Sees Over 15% Rise in Tourist Arrivals in January

Kathmandu: Nepal’s tourism sector showed strong signs of recovery in January 2026, with a year-on-year increase of more than 15 percent in foreign tourist arrivals. According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), a total of 92,573 international tourists visited the country during the month.

This figure is 14 percent higher than January 2019, a period before the Covid-19 pandemic. The growth comes despite concerns over the tourism industry’s stability following political unrest and violent protests in September last year.

Government estimates state that 77 people lost their lives during the protests, and property damage exceeded 8.4 billion Nepalese rupees. Several foreign-branded hotels, including prestigious names like Hyatt Regency and Hilton, suffered significant damage. The Hilton hotel was completely destroyed by fire, while the Hyatt Regency remains closed for repairs.

Following these events, the World Bank had predicted a sharp decline in tourist arrivals in the coming months. However, after a slight slump in September, the number of foreign visitors gradually increased, highlighting the resilience and strength of Nepal’s tourism industry.

NTB Chief Executive Officer Deepak Raj Joshi said the January figures indicate growing confidence in Nepal as an international travel destination.

“In recent years, factors such as destination promotion, expanded air connectivity, rising interest in adventure and cultural tourism, and an improved global image of Nepal have been key drivers in increasing tourist numbers,” Joshi explained.

He added that these positive statistics demonstrate Nepal’s emergence as a “lifetime experience destination.”

According to NTB data, India remained the largest source of tourists in January, with 26,624 Indian visitors accounting for 28.8 percent of total arrivals. This was followed by China with 9,101 tourists (9.8 percent), the United States with 8,406 (9.1 percent), Bangladesh with 5,814 (6.3 percent), and Australia with 4,957 tourists (5.4 percent).

Regionally, South Asian countries under SAARC contributed 39.3 percent of total visitors. Other Asian countries accounted for 26.1 percent, Europe 12.3 percent, the Americas 10.8 percent, and Oceania 5.7 percent. Tourists from the Middle East made up 1 percent, Africa 0.4 percent, with other regions contributing 4.5 percent.

For the entire year of 2025, Nepal welcomed 1.15 million foreign tourists, marking a 1 percent increase compared to 2024.