Kathmandu, Feb 3 (PTI): India continued to be Nepal’s leading source of foreign tourists in January, though the number of Indian visitors saw a notable decline, according to official data released by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on Monday.
Out of nearly 80,000 foreign tourists who visited Nepal last month, 20,485 were from India. However, this figure represents a 15.1% decrease compared to January 2024, when 24,139 Indian tourists arrived in the country by air. While a large number of Indian visitors enter Nepal via land routes, NTB records only account for those traveling by air.
In contrast, China, Nepal’s second-largest tourism market, experienced growth in tourist arrivals. A total of 8,191 Chinese tourists visited Nepal in January, reflecting a 12.7% increase compared to the same period last year.
The United States ranked third among Nepal’s key tourist sources, with 8,063 American visitors, marking a 14.9% risefrom the previous year.
Other significant contributors to Nepal’s tourism in January included Bangladesh (5,406 tourists), Australia (4,301), South Korea (3,756), the United Kingdom (3,521), Thailand (3,219), Bhutan (2,768), and Japan (1,570).
The data highlights shifting trends in Nepal’s tourism sector, with a decline in Indian arrivals offset by growth from other key markets, particularly China and the U.S.
