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KATHMANDU, June 16: As attacks and counter attacks continue between Israel and Iran, tourism entrepreneurs in Pokhara have expressed concern that Nepal’s tourism sector will be affected. According to the entrepreneurs, at a time when the number of Israeli tourists visiting Nepal has been increasing, the ongoing war has created a situation where guests are unable to come to Nepal, which worries them about the impact on tourism.
According to the entrepreneurs, Israeli tourists mostly come to Nepal for trekking and adventure tourism activities. Krishna Prasad Acharya, president of the umbrella organization of trekking businesses, the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), Gandaki, said that the number of Israeli tourists in Nepal has recently decreased. Even the tourists who had arrived before the war started have now returned to their home country.
“For Israeli tourists, the period from April to June is considered suitable. However, at this time, Israeli tourists have completely stopped arriving. Even those who had arrived returned to their home country after the war began. New arrivals have been halted,” said Acharya, “One of Nepal’s key source markets for tourism has come to a standstill. Not only Israelis, but tourists from Middle Eastern countries are also being heavily affected.”
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According to Acharya, Israeli tourists mostly go trekking. Most young Israeli tourists trek the Annapurna Circuit and the Annapurna Base Camp area. “Since they enjoy adventure activities, Israeli tourists usually come to Nepal. But now, as the arrival time coincides with the war, the inflow has stopped,” he added.
According to him, most Israeli tourists belong to the younger generation. Since many of them have received military training, they tend to seek outdoor adventure activities. Acharya also mentioned that even after retirement, Israelis tend to travel and explore Nepal.
According to government statistics, around 10,000 Israeli tourists visited Nepal in 2024. In the first five months of 2025 (January–May), more than 5,600 Israeli tourists have already arrived in Nepal. In April alone this year, nearly 2,700 Israeli tourists visited Nepal. This is the highest number of Israeli tourist arrivals recorded in a single month in 2025.
Maniraj Lamichhane, Chief of the Nepal Tourism Board in Pokhara, said that although Israeli tourism is a strong source of the tourism market for Nepal, the current conflict has affected tourist arrivals. “Up to 10,000 Israeli tourists visit Nepal annually. This year, more than 5,600 Israeli tourists have arrived so far,” Lamichhane said, “However, due to the ongoing war, the arrival of Israeli tourists is no longer possible. Nepal has lost one of its important tourism source markets. Unless the conflict ends, Israeli tourists will not return.”
According to Lamichhane, until a few years ago, Israeli tourists were considered mostly “budget” travelers. However, now even more affluent Israeli tourists are coming. “Israelis who have military training come to Nepal for their vacations. They enjoy trekking in Nepal. Israelis are known as adventurous tourists who undertake long-distance treks,” Lamichhane said. He added that Israelis also show strong interest in trekking and rafting. Recently, Israeli tourists have also started to spend more generously.
Lamichhane said that not only Israeli tourists but also visitors from other Middle Eastern countries are heavily affected due to the ongoing conflict. According to him, some airports have been closed because of the war. Since Israeli tourists are currently unable to leave their country, Nepal’s tourism is being impacted. Lamichhane also noted that the peak season for Israeli tourists visiting Nepal is from April to June and again from September to October. With air travel disrupted, tourists may be prevented from embarking on their journeys.
