Nepal sees record-breaking tourist arrivals in September

POKHARA, Oct 4: A total of 96,305 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal via air travel in September alone. According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), this is the highest number of foreign tourists recorded in any September to date. The NTB stated that this year's September arrivals have surpassed those of previous years, setting a new record.

In September 2023, as many as 91,012 tourists arrived in Nepal. According to the NTB, nearly 6 percent more foreigners entered Nepal this September compared to last year.

The highest number of foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in 2019. A total of 1.197 million foreign tourists visited Nepal that year. In September 2019, 92,604 foreign visitors came to Nepal.

Mani Lamichhane, Director of the NTB, says, “Since the government began keeping records of foreign tourists entering Nepal, this September has seen the highest number of visitors. Looking at the statistics for September alone, this time has been a record-breaking one.”

According to the board, tourist arrivals in previous years were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. In September 2022, 58,314 foreign visitors came to Nepal, while the number in September 2021 was 9,907. In September 2020, only 584 foreign tourists entered Nepal. 'This time, there has been an increase in European and American visitors.

“Even though the number of Indian and Chinese visitors has decreased, the overall arrival numbers have significantly increased,” he said. “When American and European tourists visit, it benefits the entire Nepali economy,” he added.

This September, 17,104 European tourists visited Nepal. Last September, the number was 15,276. He stated that there has been a 12 percent increase in European visitors compared to the previous September.

According to the data, the number of American tourists has also increased this time. In September this year, 11,549 American visitors came to Nepal, compared to 8,473 last September. Lamichhane stated that there has been a 36 percent increase in American visitors this September compared to the previous one.

So far this year (January–September), over 816,000 foreign tourists have visited Nepal. In nine months, a total of 816,639 foreign visitors entered Nepal. In January 2024, 79,100 foreign tourists came to Nepal, while in February, the number was 97,426. The number of arrivals in March was 128,167.

In April, the number of arrivals was 111,376, while in May, 90,211 foreign visitors entered Nepal. In June, the number of foreign visitors arriving in Nepal was 76,736. The arrivals in July were 64,599, and in August, the number was 72,719

In September, 96,305 foreign tourists entered Nepal. The government has set a target of bringing in 1.6 million foreign tourists this fiscal year.

Decline in arrivals of Indian tourists

There has been a significant decline in the arrival of Indian tourists this time. Similarly, the arrival of Chinese tourists has also decreased compared to last year, according to the NTB's Director Lamichhane.

According to Lamichhane, 28,694 Indian tourists entered Nepal in September 2023, but this September, the number has decreased by 20 percent, with only 22,984 Indian visitors arriving.

"The decline in the arrival of Indian tourists is due to the incidents in Nepal, as well as air and road accidents," he said. "There was significant improvement in the arrival of Indian tourists, but this time it has dropped," Lamichhane stated. Compared to last August, the number of Indian visitors has decreased. Last August, 25,832 Indian tourists came to Nepal, while that number has now fallen to 22,984.

The arrival of Chinese tourists is also affected. The number of Chinese visitors was 8,174 in September 2023, but it decreased to 8,042 in August. “The arrival of Indian tourists is more impacted than that of the Chinese. Improvements in the arrival of Indian tourists can occur in a short time, while declines do not take long to recover. They are affected by minor incidents,” Lamichhane said.