Nepal Sees Over 720,000 Tourist Arrivals in First Eight Months of 2024

Nepal has welcomed 720,334 tourists in the first eight months of 2024, according to data from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). This marks an 8.3% increase in tourist arrivals compared to the same period last year, reflecting the steady recovery of Nepal’s tourism sector post-COVID.

In August alone, 72,719 tourists visited Nepal, 5,566 more than the 67,153 who visited in August 2023. NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane noted the increasing number of foreign tourists, expressing optimism that tourism promotion efforts will attract even more visitors from neighboring and other countries in the coming months.

Among the foreign arrivals in August, India led with 25,832 tourists, followed by China with 6,614, the US with 5,614, Sri Lanka with 4,851, and Bangladesh with 3,077. The figures show a continued upward trend from previous years, with only 6,093 tourists visiting during the same period in 2021 due to pandemic restrictions.

The highest number of tourist arrivals in 2024 was recorded in March, with 111,376 visitors, while July saw the lowest, with 64,599. The monthly breakdown of tourist arrivals shows consistent growth, with 79,100 in January, 97,426 in February, and 111,376 in March. Numbers slightly decreased in April with 103,076, 90,211 in May, 76,736 in June, and 72,719 in August.

In 2023, Nepal recorded 1,014,885 tourist arrivals, and the government has set an ambitious target of attracting 1.6 million foreign visitors in the current fiscal year. This target aligns with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation’s Tourism Strategy Plan (2016–2025) and the Visit Nepal Decade initiative. Additionally, the Department of Tourism is working on developing infrastructure at 100 tourist destinations across the country to further enhance tourism experiences.