Tourist arrivals fall 18.26% as youth-led protests take toll on tourism

KATHMANDU: International tourist arrivals to Nepal via air fell by 18.26% in September, mainly due to the protests and vandalism on September 8 and 9 across the country.

According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), 78,711 international tourists visited Nepal in September, compared to 96,302 visitors in the same month last year.

The country witnessed a decline in tourist footfall during the month from all market segments. Arrivals from South Asia fell to 24,285, compared to 33,611 in September last year. Similarly, arrivals from Asia (excluding SAARC countries) declined to 12,590, from 18,989 last year.

Likewise, arrivals from Europe dropped from 18,050 in September last year to 16,597 in the review month. The number of visitors from the Americas also fell to 11,523 in September, compared to 12,149 in the same month last year.

As usual, India remained Nepal’s largest source market, contributing 19.8% of total arrivals, or 15,556, in September. The United States was next with 9,679 visitors, followed by Australia (6,824), China (5,237), the United Kingdom (4,981), Sri Lanka (4,616), Bangladesh (3,015), Germany (2,230), Israel (1,743), and Malaysia (1,673).

Meanwhile, the number of international tourists visiting Nepal in the first nine months of 2025 reached 815,273, marginally down from 816,637 during the same period in 2024.

Tourism entrepreneurs fear that protests and vandalism during the peak travel season will affect tourist arrivals throughout the season.

Tourism arrivals in Nepal typically increase from August as the monsoon season subsides, leading into the peak season that lasts through December. October and November, which are known for favorable weather and major cultural festivals, are typically the busiest months for the country’s tourism industry.

Nepal received 1,147,568 international tourists in 2024, a 13.07% increase over 2023. However, the total was still 4.14% below the record high of 1,197,191 set in 2019.