Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal welcomed 577,689 international tourists in the first six months of 2025, marking a slight year-on-year decline but still surpassing the number of arrivals recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to official data released by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), international tourist arrivals via air in the first half of 2025 declined by 0.91% compared to 583,016 in the same period of 2024. However, this year’s figure is slightly higher than the 573,658 tourists Nepal received in the first six months of 2019, the last normal year before the pandemic severely disrupted global travel and tourism.
South Asia (SAARC) remained Nepal’s largest source region for international tourists, accounting for 35.2% of total arrivals. During the first six months of 2025, Nepal welcomed 203,242 visitors from SAARC countries — a decrease from 230,516 in the same period of 2024. The drop is mainly attributed to fewer arrivals from India which is Nepal’s single largest source market. Nepal welcomed 147,839 tourists by air from its southern neighbor in the first six months of 2025, down from 186,696 in the same period of the last year.
Nepal, however, saw increases in tourist arrivals from all other major regions compared to the first half of 2024. The country welcomed 132,650 tourists from Asia (excluding SAARC), 102,524 from Europe, 70,456 from the Americas, 24,169 from Oceania, 10,125 from the Middle East, 2,052 from Africa and 32,371 from other countries. These improvements suggest a growing diversification of Nepal’s tourism market beyond its traditional reliance on South Asia.
Tourism in Nepal follows a strong seasonal pattern. The country’s main tourist season begins in mid-September and extends through December, when the weather is dry and views are clear, making it ideal for trekking, mountaineering and cultural exploration. Spring, particularly March to May, is another peak season that coincides with the climbing season for mountains such as Everest.
June marks the beginning of the off-season as the monsoon arrives, reducing travel and trekking activities, particularly in remote and mountainous regions. The months of June through August typically see a dip in international arrivals due to heavy rainfall and reduced visibility. However, with China allowing Indian tourists to the Kailash-Mansarovar region this year, tourism entrepreneurs are hopeful of attracting a substantial number of Indin tourists heading to the Kailash-Mansarovar region in this ‘off-season’ period.
Top Five Counties in Terms of Arrivals in Six Months
- India – 147,830
- US – 58,326
- China – 52,514
- Bangladesh – 28,956
- United Kingdom – 27,068
Top Five Tourism Source Regions in Six Months
- South Asia – 203,242
- Asia (Except South Asia) – 132,750
- Europe – 102,524
- Americas – 70,456
- Oceania – 24,169
