Nepal Welcomes Over 1.14 Million Foreign Tourists in 2024

Nepal recorded a significant milestone in tourism in 2024, with over 1.14 million foreign tourists visiting the country, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). As of this morning, a total of 1,147,024 international visitors entered Nepal this year, marking a robust recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is the first year Nepal has seen such a surge in tourist arrivals since the pandemic,” said NTB Director Marin Raj Lamichhane. On average, around 3,000 tourists visited Nepal daily, with the overall influx representing a 14% increase compared to 2023.

Nepal’s pre-pandemic peak of 1.197 million tourist arrivals in 2019 served as a benchmark for recovery. While the pandemic brought international travel to a halt from 2020 to 2022, recent data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization shows Nepal’s tourism has rebounded by 96% in 2024.

The influx of tourists was attributed to major events such as the Nepal Premier League, Global Buddhist Summit, International Balloon Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival, alongside other cultural and religious celebrations.

Nepal’s tourism sector continues to show resilience, with stakeholders optimistic about surpassing pre-pandemic levels in the coming years.