Nepal Welcomes Over One Million Foreign Tourists in 2024, But Falls Short of Annual Target

Nepal recorded the arrival of 1,055,533 foreign tourists via air in the first 11 months of 2024, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). Despite this impressive figure, the country is likely to fall short of its target to attract 1,315,000 tourists this year.

The NTB anticipates an additional 70,000 foreign arrivals in December, bringing the total to approximately 1,115,000 for the year. Although November saw 114,000 tourists—a 5.4% increase compared to the same month in 2023—the overall target remains challenging due to various factors.

“Tourist arrivals this year are expected to increase by around 10% compared to 2023, when Nepal welcomed 1,014,871 visitors. However, meeting the ambitious target for 2024 has been difficult,” said NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane.

Tourism in Nepal has shown strong signs of recovery post-COVID-19. The industry has rebounded to 96% of its pre-pandemic levels globally, outpacing the recovery of the Asia-Pacific region, according to United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) data.

The highest tourist arrival figure remains from 2019, with 1,197,191 visitors recorded before the pandemic severely impacted the sector. While 2024’s numbers reflect steady progress, the target shortfall highlights ongoing challenges in achieving full recovery and growth in the tourism industry.