Kathmandu: Nepal recorded over 577,000 foreign tourist arrivals in the first six months of 2025, according to data released by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). While this marks a slight decline compared to the same period last year — which saw 583,011 visitors — India continued to dominate as the top source market, contributing 147,839 tourists.
Despite the minor drop in overall arrivals, tourism officials say the trend shows steady post-pandemic recovery. “India has historically been Nepal’s strongest tourism market, and the trend continues,” said an NTB spokesperson.
The United States ranked second with 58,326 visitors, followed by China (52,514), Bangladesh (28,956), and the United Kingdom (27,068). Other notable source countries included Australia (22,095), Thailand (17,634), Sri Lanka (15,432), Germany (14,455), and South Korea (12,726).
In the month of June 2025 alone, Nepal welcomed 76,425 international tourists, with India again leading at 32,662 visitors. The U.S. followed with 9,696 arrivals, while China (6,736), Bangladesh (5,449), and the UK (2,284) also contributed significantly.
The NTB noted that tourists in June also arrived from Australia, Malaysia, Bhutan, Japan, and South Korea, reflecting Nepal’s continued appeal across diverse markets.
Tourism remains a critical sector for Nepal’s economy, and officials hope that sustained marketing efforts and improved infrastructure will help drive numbers up in the second half of the year.