October 2023: A Historic Month for Nepal Tourism

 Nepal is a land of natural beauty, cultural diversity, and adventure. It is home to eight of the world’s ten highest mountains, including the majestic Mount Everest. It is also a place of rich heritage, with hundreds of temples, monasteries, and festivals. Nepal has something to offer for every traveler, whether they are looking for spirituality, wildlife, or adrenaline.



Nepal has been recovering from the devastating effects of the 2015 earthquake, which damaged many of its historical and cultural sites, as well as its tourism infrastructure. The COVID-19 pandemic also posed a major challenge for the country’s tourism sector, as travel restrictions and lockdowns severely affected the inflow of visitors. However, despite these difficulties, Nepal has shown remarkable resilience and determination to revive its tourism industry.

In October 2023, Nepal achieved a historic milestone by welcoming a record number of tourists in a single month. According to data from the Immigration Department, Nepal received a total of 117,306 tourists during the month, as confirmed by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) . This figure surpassed the previous record of 113,000 tourists, set in October 2019 .

The surge in tourist arrivals can be attributed to several factors, such as the easing of travel restrictions, the improvement of health and safety protocols, the promotion of domestic and regional tourism, and the hosting of various events and festivals. One of the major events that contributed to the increase in tourist arrivals was the gathering of non-resident Nepalis (NRNs) in Nepal during this period. NRNs are counted as tourists when they visit the country, and they accounted for a significant portion of the visitors, especially from the United States and Europe .

Another factor that boosted the tourism sector was the arrival of tourists from neighboring countries, such as India, Bangladesh, China, and Sri Lanka. These countries have strong cultural and historical ties with Nepal, and they offer a large potential market for tourism. India, in particular, was the largest source of tourists for Nepal in October 2023, with 18,480 visitors . India and Nepal share a close and friendly relationship, and they have recently signed several agreements to enhance their connectivity and cooperation in various fields, including tourism.

Nepal also attracted tourists from other parts of the world, such as Australia, Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. These countries have a long history of supporting Nepal’s development and conservation efforts, and they have a keen interest in exploring Nepal’s natural and cultural attractions. Some of the popular destinations for tourists in Nepal include Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini, and the Everest region.

Nepal’s tourism industry has shown remarkable signs of recovery and growth, despite the challenges posed by the earthquake and the pandemic. In the first 10 months of 2023, Nepal welcomed over 800,000 tourists, with a total of 809,678 visitors arriving between January and October. This is a significant increase from the previous years, when the tourist arrivals were 52,121 in October 2022, 15,715 in 2021, and 1,831 in 2020.

Nepal’s tourism sector is a vital source of income, employment, and foreign exchange for the country. It also plays a key role in preserving and promoting Nepal’s rich and diverse culture, heritage, and environment. Nepal has a vision of becoming a leading tourism destination in the world, and it has set a target of attracting 2 million tourists by 2025 . With the support of the government, the private sector, the civil society, and the international community, Nepal is confident of achieving this goal and making tourism a pillar of its socio-economic development.

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