Nepal welcomed 70,193 tourists by air in July 2025, with Indian travelers topping the list at 27,152, accounting for 38.7% of arrivals, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). The data, released Friday, marks an 8.7% increase from July 2024, pushing the year’s total to 647,882 visitors in the first seven months—the highest post-COVID figure.

China followed with 6,890 arrivals (9.8%), the USA with 6,626 (9.4%), Bangladesh with 4,413 (6.3%), and the UK with 3,547 (5.1%). Nepal’s tourism sector, a key economic driver contributing 6.6% to GDP in 2023, is rebounding strongly, reaching 99% of pre-COVID levels compared to 2019’s 1.197 million air arrivals.

NTB CEO Deepak Raj Joshi credited the surge to the Visit Nepal Decade (2023-2032), enhanced private-sector investment, and diverse offerings like pilgrimage, adventure, and eco-tourism. “Promotional campaigns and improved connectivity have made Nepal a year-round destination,” Joshi said. Indians, drawn by visa-free access and proximity, favor spiritual sites like Pashupatinath and adventure hubs like Pokhara.

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With 2025 designated as Visit Nepal Year, the NTB aims to surpass 1.5 million arrivals, leveraging new trekking routes and cultural festivals to sustain growth.

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