KATHMANDU, Dec 19: Among the foreign tourists visiting India, Nepali tourists have secured a spot in the top 10, ranking 7th, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism of India for 2022. The data reveals that India welcomed a total of 6.2 million tourists that year, with Nepali nationals comprising 2.19 percent of this figure, totaling 135,347 individuals. Notably, December emerges as the peak season for Nepalis traveling to India, while January records the lowest number of visits.

The month of December, characterized by favorable weather conditions, sees a surge in Nepali tourists engaging in sightseeing activities in India. Additionally, many citizens venture out on the eve of the English New Year, contributing to the travel influx during this period.

In 2022, the highest number of tourists in India came from the United States, with 1.3 million American tourists. Bangladesh secured the second position with 1.25 million tourists visiting India that year. The impact of COVID-19 had significantly affected the Indian tourism market in 2021, with only 1.52 million tourists recorded, following a peak of 10.9 million visitors in 2019.

Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi remains a key entry point for tourists to India, with 1.93 million arrivals in 2022, constituting 31.21 percent of the total number of tourists. Other significant entry points include airports in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, and Kolkata.

Conversely, in 2022, the number of Indians visiting Nepal reached 209,105 individuals, securing the top spot among total tourist numbers. It's worth noting that both Nepal and India consider only citizens traveling by aircraft as tourists. However, despite the statistical data on Indian citizens traveling, Nepal has yet to become a prominent choice for Indian tourists.

 
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