Nepal Welcomes Over Half a Million Tourists in First Half of 2025, Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Levels
Kathmandu – Nepal’s tourism sector has continued its post-pandemic rebound with a notable surge in international visitor arrivals during the first six months of 2025. According to data compiled by the Nepal Tourism Board based on Department of Immigration figures, the country welcomed 577,689 foreign tourists between January and June this year, representing a 100.7 percent recovery compared to the same period in 2019.
Despite a slight dip of 0.9 percent from the same period last year, when Nepal recorded 583,016 arrivals, the 2025 figures mark a significant return to form, reflecting the resilience and growing appeal of Nepal as a travel destination.
South Asia (SAARC) remained the dominant contributor, accounting for 35.2 percent of all arrivals with 203,242 tourists, although this represented an 11.8 percent decline from the same period in 2024. India alone sent 32,662 visitors in June, securing its position as the top source country. Other leading markets included the United States (9,696), China (6,736), Bangladesh (5,449), and the United Kingdom (2,284).
Non-SAARC Asia followed as the second-largest region, contributing 132,750 visitors (23 percent), with a modest 1.9 percent increase over the previous year. Europe accounted for 17.7 percent of arrivals, growing by 4.3 percent compared to 2024, while Oceania recorded a strong 17.3 percent growth, led by Australia’s steady interest.
The Americas, representing 12.2 percent of total visitors, registered a 9.1 percent year-on-year increase, with the United States ranking second in individual source markets. The Middle East also showed notable progress with a 42.7 percent surge, while Africa saw a minor dip of 9.8 percent.
In June 2025 alone, Nepal welcomed 76,425 tourists. Regional distribution for the month showed over half of the arrivals came from South Asia, with SAARC nations making up 52.4 percent of the total. Asia (Other) followed with 16.6 percent, the Americas contributed 14 percent, Europe 9 percent, Oceania 2.6 percent, and the Middle East 1.1 percent. Africa and other regions together contributed 4.8 percent.
Nepal’s efforts to attract a diverse range of travelers appear to be paying off, with growth in long-haul markets such as the Americas and Oceania complementing traditional strongholds like India and China. The revival of tourism-related activities, improvements in infrastructure, and targeted marketing campaigns have all played a role in revitalizing the industry.
With the tourism sector now exceeding pre-COVID benchmarks, stakeholders are optimistic that 2025 could set the tone for sustained growth in the years ahead.
