Despite concerns that the Gen Z protests on Bhadra 23 and the subsequent riots, vandalism, and looting the following day might impact Nepal’s tourism sector, the actual data shows no significant decline in tourist arrivals.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), tourist arrivals in October 2025 (Ashoj 15 – Kartik 14, 2082) increased by 3.3% compared to the same period last year.
Last October, 124,000 tourists visited Nepal, whereas this year, the number rose to 128,000, an increase of 4,000 visitors.
However, despite this year-on-year growth, the figures are still about 6,000 lower than pre-pandemic levels in October 2019, when 134,069 tourists had arrived in Nepal.
Country-wise Breakdown
In October 2025, the highest number of tourists came from India, totaling 17,298, followed by 13,286 from the United States and 6,744 from the United Kingdom.
China, which once ranked close to India in tourist inflows before the COVID-19 pandemic, has now dropped to fourth place, with 6,366 Chinese tourists visiting Nepal in October. However, cumulatively, China still ranks third overall in 2025.
Up to October 2025, a total of:
- 242,350 tourists came from India,
- 93,985 from the United States, and
- 78,929 from China.
Regional Tourist Share (October 2025)
- South Asia: 22%
- Europe: 31%
- America: 12%
- Other Asian countries: 18%
Total Arrivals in 2025 (January–October)
From January to October 2025, Nepal recorded a total of 943,716 foreign tourist arrivals.
- South Asia accounted for 36%,
- Other Asian countries: 20.9%,
- Europe: 19%,
- America: 12%.
Comparative Growth Analysis (2025 vs 2019)
According to NTB data:
- Tourist arrivals from South Asian countries have increased by 15%,
- From other Asian countries, declined by 28%,
- From Europe, decreased by 5%,
- From America, increased by 17%, and
- From Middle Asia, increased by 23%.
Tourism Revenue Also on the Rise
Tourism income for the first three months of the current fiscal year (Shrawan–Ashoj) has also increased slightly.
The total tourism revenue reached Rs. 11.58 billion, up from Rs. 11.55 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year.