Nepali nationals are spending significantly more on foreign trips compared to the amount foreign tourists spend in Nepal, according to the latest data from Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).
The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by the central bank on Tuesday revealed that Nepalis spent Rs 22.51 billion on foreign travel in the first three months of the current fiscal year (FY 2023/24), while foreign tourists visiting Nepal spent only Rs 16.86 billion. This trend has been consistent over recent years.
In the first quarter of the last fiscal year (FY 2022/23), Nepalis spent Rs 17.45 billion on foreign trips, while tourists visiting Nepal spent Rs 14.75 billion. Similarly, during the same period in the fiscal year 2021/22, Nepalis spent over Rs 11 billion abroad, compared to the Rs 10.49 billion spent by tourists in Nepal amid travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
NRB Executive Director Gunakar Bhatta notes that Nepalis are increasingly traveling abroad not just for leisure but also for purposes like work, education, and strengthening their professional profiles.
A five-year data prepared by the Department of Immigration also highlights a rising trend in Nepalis traveling abroad, particularly between 2020 to November 2024. In September 2024 alone, 42,954 Nepalis traveled abroad to destinations such as the UAE, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and European countries like France, Germany, Spain, and Italy.
The UAE has emerged as the most popular destination, with 37,525 Nepalis traveling there in September. However, officials suggest that not all of these trips are for sightseeing.
Travel industry professionals echo this sentiment. Deepak Poudel, Outbound Tour Manager at Holidays to Nepal Pvt. Ltd., explains that many Nepalis travel on tourist visas with the intention of finding work or securing work visas in other destinations.
Although Nepalis' outbound travel spending surpasses tourist spending in Nepal, the number of foreign visitors to Nepal is steadily increasing. Tourism experts suggest that Nepal needs to enhance its tourism offerings to balance the spending gap and attract more high-spending tourists.
