With the beginning of the new year 2026, Nepal’s tourism sector has witnessed remarkable enthusiasm. In January alone, 92,573 foreign tourists visited Nepal. This number is nearly 16 per cent higher compared to the same month last year. Even more encouraging is the fact that tourist arrivals are 14 per cent higher than in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
As always, Indian tourists topped the list of visitors to Nepal. In January alone, more than 26,600 Indian tourists entered Nepal, accounting for around 29 per cent of total arrivals. China ranked second, with 9,101 tourists, followed by the United States, from where 8,406 tourists visited Nepal in just one month. Likewise, data shows that around 5,800 tourists from Bangladesh and nearly 5,000 from Australia arrived in Nepal.
The authorities have described these figures as highly positive. They stated that the increase in foreign tourist arrivals is due to the expansion of air connectivity and the nation’s strong appeal in adventure and cultural tourism. They remarked that Nepal is now increasingly being established as a “once-in-a-lifetime destination.”
