Nepal welcomed 96,880 international visitors in February 2025, a 0.6% decline compared to the same month last year, according to the latest report from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
The data, based on preliminary figures provided by the Department of Immigration, shows that India remained the largest source of tourists, contributing 19,187 visitors, despite a 25% drop compared to February 2024. The United States followed with 10,348 visitors, showing steady growth, while China accounted for 8,283 arrivals, marking a 9.8% decline.
Other significant contributors included Thailand (5,609), the United Kingdom (5,057), Bangladesh (4,847), Sri Lanka (4,370), Australia (3,737), South Korea (2,779), and Japan (2,643).
Regionally, South Asia (SAARC) accounted for the largest share of arrivals at 31% (30,196 visitors), driven primarily by India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Other parts of Asia contributed 29% (28,098 arrivals), with strong showings from Thailand, China, and South Korea. Europe followed with 16.5% (15,971 arrivals), while the Americas represented 13% (12,560 arrivals), led by the United States. Smaller contributions came from Oceania (4.1% or 3,961 arrivals), the Middle East (0.9% or 879 arrivals), and Africa (0.3% or 320 arrivals).
Despite the year-on-year dip, Nepal's tourism industry continues to show resilience. While arrivals from key markets like India and China declined, other regions such as the United States, Australia, and Thailand demonstrated notable growth. European and American markets remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations in individual countries.
Compared to pre-pandemic levels, February 2025 arrivals were down by 5.4%, but the overall recovery trajectory remains positive.
The Covid-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on Nepal's tourism sector, with arrivals plummeting to 230,085 in 2020 and hitting a historic low of 150,962 in 2021—the lowest since 1977. However, 2024 marked a significant turnaround, with 1.14 million international tourists, a 13% increase from 2023 and a 96% recovery compared to pre-pandemic levels. This figure is the highest since Nepal's record 1.19 million arrivals in 2019, signaling a steady rebound for the industry.
