Tourism Thrives in Nepal with Over One Million Visitors

Published on December 3, 2025

In 2025, Nepal reached a new height in the country’s travel industry as the country crossed the one million mark in tourist arrivals. Recent statisitcs suggest strong growth within the industry, and confirmed November as a successful month within the industry. With a majority share, the tourists from India were followed by the USA, UK, and China, suggesting a global trend among foreign tourists with an increasing appreciation to travel to Nepal.

As demonstrated by the 18,995 tourists from November, India, which shares a border with Nepal, is the country’s main source of visitors. India has an increasing number of travelers Greater Indianization has also contributed to a surge in intra-regional travel, and with t he majority of the travelers from India, Nepal has become a favourite destination.

Tourism in Nepal

The USA closely follows in the list of the main visitors to Nepal. In November, 11,254 American tourists visited the country. With an array of trekking routes and numerous other tourist attractions that encompass the fascinating Himalayan range, many tourists from America, predominantly those with a strong desire for adventure, choose to travel to Nepal.

China’s contribution to the growth of the tourism industry in Nepal has been sizable, as shown last month when 7,871 Chinese nationals visited the country. Despite the political and logistical challenges associated with the tourism industry in Nepal, a positive trend has developed with the number of Chinese tourists visiting the country; interest in the destination continues to flourish given China’s position as one of the world’s largest outbound tourism markets.

During the month of November, a significant number of tourists were also recorded from the United Kingdom, with 7,189 British nationals visiting Nepal. The UK has historically been a significant market for Nepal as many British tourists visit the country to trek on its popular trekking routes, including the Everest Base Camp trek and Annapurna Circuit.

Other notable arrivals were from Bangladesh (5,653), Australia (5,393), and Sri Lanka (4,831). Furthermore, France, Germany, and Myanmar also increased the number of incoming tourists, with 4,211 and 4,134 visitors, respectively.

These incoming tourists to Nepal signal the interest in the diverse range of activities available including trekking, mountaineering, and cultural tourism. Nepal’s position as the home of Mount Everest (the world’s highest peak), continues to attract tourists seeking adventure. Furthermore, the country’s deep and rich spiritual heritage, rooted in Buddhism and Hinduism, draws many spiritual travelers to the country.

This increase in visitors is a promising sign for Nepal’s tourism. Arrivals in Nepal have increased from 94,101 in 2021, 317,699 in 2022, and exceeded 555,000 over the first half of 2023. The Nepal government has also begun introducing new and improved transport and accommodation facilities, in addition to the health services available. Furthermore, the government has focused services and infrastructure improvements around key international market, promoting services, making Nepal’s offerings in adventure and culture tourism more visible.

In the last few months, visa and arrival numbers have been more than double in Nepal. India, the USA, China, and the UK have shown a steady increase. Nepals tourism offers a widens spectrum for all kinds of adventure. Popular activities such as trekking the Himalayas, and visiting the historic mountain city of Kathmandu to find solitude in one of Nepal’s numerous monasteries have enticed numerous tourists.

The increase in the number of arrivals also highlights Nepal’s position on the map as a regional tourism center. Situated between India and China, two leading markets in outbound tourism, Nepal can tap into the greater regional travel market. It is expected that the tourism marketers and travel trade of Nepal will continue to promote the destination through focused advertising and collaborations with overseas travel businesses.

Conclusion

Passing the one-million milestone indicates that Nepal’s tourism will continue to grow in the immediate and long term. The country’s picturesque environment, immense cultural wealth and exotic adventure tourism products will continue to attract visitors. The diverse tourist markets entry into the country is a great step in the right direction and reinforces Nepal’s position as a major tourism destination.

The arrival of these new tourists is likely to improve the overall situation of the Nepalese economy, and especially the hospitality, transport sectors as well as micro businesses that serve tourists. It also enhances the development of the communities in the rural areas of the country especially in the high tourism impact trekking destinations like the Everest and Annapurna regions.

Achieving over one million foreign tourist arrivals for the first time in 2025 is certainly an important milestone for Nepal’s tourism industry. Foreign tourist arrivals gained remarkable momentum during the post pandemic in the tourism-generating countries, especially India, the United States, China, and the United Kingdom. The unique synthesis of adventure, culture, and nature will keep Nepal a forerunner in tourism.