Nepals Tourism Faces Challenges as Political Parties Step Up Efforts

New Delhi, February 26: Nepal’s declining tourist numbers have become a significant concern. Once a globally popular tourist destination, the country is currently experiencing its worst tourism crisis since the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, political parties in Nepal are taking the initiative to boost tourist arrivals.

According to media reports, parliamentary elections are set for March 5. Major political parties participating in the elections are expressing concern over tourism and promising efforts for improvement.

The Kathmandu Post reported that for the past three years, Nepal has seen just over one million tourists annually, failing to reach pre-COVID levels from 2019. Industry stakeholders have identified recurring plane crashes, poor highway infrastructure, and weak international promotion as key obstacles.

The report states that four major political parties have prioritized tourism in their election manifestos. They have pledged to enhance aviation safety, ensure additional air entry points with India through diplomatic efforts, and aim to double the number of tourists and their spending within five years.

A common theme in all party promises is the commitment to remove Nepal from the European Commission’s air safety list and expand international flights from the country’s two new international airports.

Led by former Prime Minister Oli, the CPN-UML has prioritized tourism infrastructure development, market promotion, expansion of air services, strengthening internal security, and opening new tourist destinations. They have emphasized a “tourist safety first” approach.

The Nepali Communist Party, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, has promised legal steps to remove Nepal Airlines and private carriers from the European Commission’s air safety list, along with technical improvements. Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress has highlighted wellness and spiritual tourism in its manifesto.

The newly formed RSP has also committed to doubling the number of tourists and their average spending over the next five years, proposing technical and policy reforms.

Previous reports referenced data from the Nepal Tourism Board, indicating a 97% recovery in tourist arrivals compared to pre-COVID levels last year.

Statistics show that between January and December 2025, 1,158,459 tourists arrived by air, compared to 1,147,548 the previous year. This included 292,438 Indian tourists in 2025, an 8% decrease from the prior year.

Notably, in 2019, before the pandemic, a total of 1,197,191 tourists arrived in Nepal by air. According to a separate statement from the Nepal Tourism Board, Indian tourists have remained a leading segment of international arrivals, especially during major festivals and events.

India continues to be Nepal’s largest source market, contributing 25% to 30% of total international arrivals. Remarkably, January 2026 saw a 30% increase in Indian tourist arrivals compared to January 2025, reflecting growing interest and a return of travel confidence.

Earlier reports cited Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, stating in January that the decline in Indian tourists was due to protests in September last year, which led to the fall of KP Oli’s government and resulted in 77 fatalities.

However, he mentioned that despite political unrest, total tourist arrivals remained strong in 2025, with a 1% increase in global tourist arrivals by air.

He reiterated that India remains the largest source of foreign tourists for Nepal, with Indian tourists accounting for 35.2% of total arrivals in 2025, the highest globally.

Following India, the top five contributing countries to Nepal’s tourism last year included the United States (112,316), China (58,684), the United Kingdom (57,545), and Bangladesh (49,357).

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