Southward Trend of Tourist Arrival in September 2025
Kathmandu – Nepal recorded a total of 78,711 international visitor arrivals (IVAs) in September 2025, marking an 18.3% decline compared to the same month last year. Despite this dip, the figure represents approximately 85% of pre-pandemic levels observed in September 2019, indicating a steady recovery of the country’s tourism sector.
According to the latest data released by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the cumulative number of international visitors for the first nine months of 2025 has reached 815,273. The figures suggest that Nepal continues to regain momentum in international tourism, driven largely by markets in South Asia, North America, and Europe.
India remains the leading source of visitors, with 15,556 travelers accounting for 19.8% of total arrivals in September. The United States follows with 9,679 visitors (12.3%), while Australia contributed 6,824 arrivals (8.7%). China and the United Kingdom also ranked among the top five markets, recording 5,237 (6.7%) and 4,981 (6.3%) visitors respectively.
Tourism officials highlight that the steady flow of visitors from India and the United States reflects both geographic proximity and growing interest in Nepal’s natural and cultural attractions. Australia, China, and the UK continue to demonstrate strong long-haul travel demand, underscoring Nepal’s growing visibility as an international destination.
Breaking down arrivals by region, South Asia (SAARC countries) accounted for the largest share at 30.9% with 24,285 visitors, followed by Europe at 21.1% (16,597 visitors). Other Asian countries contributed 12,590 visitors (16.0%), while the Americas recorded 11,523 arrivals (14.6%). Oceania supplied 7,314 travelers (9.3%), and the Middle East accounted for 2,328 visitors (3.0%). Africa and other regions contributed smaller numbers, with 344 (0.4%) and 3,730 (4.17%) visitors respectively.
Despite the slight decline compared to 2024, tourism experts suggest that the ongoing recovery is a positive sign, especially in the post-pandemic context. The overall performance, reaching 85% of the pre-pandemic benchmark, demonstrates resilience and sustained interest from international travelers. Analysts anticipate that the numbers could further improve toward the end of the year, driven by the festive season and targeted promotional campaigns by Nepal Tourism Board in key source markets.
Nepal’s tourism industry, which has traditionally relied heavily on adventure tourism, trekking, and cultural heritage visits, is now also seeing a gradual diversification in visitor demographics. Increasing numbers of long-haul travelers from Europe, North America, and Oceania indicate growing global recognition of Nepal as a holistic travel destination that combines natural beauty, cultural heritage, and adventure experiences.
As Nepal continues to rebuild its tourism sector, industry stakeholders are calling for strategic infrastructure development, improved connectivity, and innovative marketing campaigns to attract a larger share of international tourists in the coming months. With a steady recovery trajectory, September 2025’s figures reflect cautious optimism for Nepal’s tourism sector as it navigates the post-pandemic era.
