Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal recorded a modest decline in international tourist arrivals in April, even as overall visitor numbers for the first four months of 2026 went up slightly.
The latest arrival figures released by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on Monday show Nepal welcomed 107,934 foreign tourists in April, down 7.3% compared to 116,490 arrivals in the same month last year.
The dip comes after a strong March and suggests a slight softening in momentum as the trekking season gradually winds up.
Despite the April slowdown, total arrivals in the first four months of 2026 went up by 2.75% to 426,464. In the first four months of 2025, Nepal welcomed 415,048 international tourists.
Monthly figures show a generally upward trend earlier in 2026, with 92,573 visitors in January, 105,441 in February, and a peak of 120,516 in March before easing in April.
Nepal welcomed a total of 1,158,459 international tourists in 2025, and the current trajectory indicates continued recovery and growth in the tourism sector.
India remained Nepal’s largest source market in April with 25,196 visitors. Indian visitors accounted for 23.3% of total international tourist arrivals during the month. China followed with 11,722 tourists (10.9%), while the United States ranked third with 8,724 visitors (8.1%). Other major contributors included Australia, with 5,327 tourists (4.9%), and Bangladesh, with 5,231 (4.8%).
In terms of regional distribution, South Asia accounted for the largest share of visitors at 31%. Visitors from other parts of Asia made up 24.8% percent of arrivals, while Europe contributed 20.4%. The Americas accounted for 10.2% of total arrivals, followed by Oceania at 5.5%. Visitors from the Middle East, Africa, and other regions together comprised 8.2%.
