Indian tourists lead Nepal’s post-pandemic tourism revival

DHANKUTA (East Nepal), : Nepal’s tourism industry, which was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, is showing strong signs of recovery. India has emerged as the leading source of foreign tourists, with 32,662 Indian nationals visiting Nepal in June alone, out of a total of 76,425 international arrivals that month.

Indian tourists continue to top the list, followed by visitors from the United States, China, and Bangladesh. Nepal recorded a 99.6% recovery in tourist arrivals compared to June 2024, and a 2.1% increase over pre-pandemic levels in June 2019—marking a significant milestone in the sector’s rebound.

To further promote tourism, especially religious tourism which is witnessing a surge, the Nepal Tourism Board's Koshi Province office recently organized a five-day familiarization trip for ten Indian journalists. The initiative involved visits to various tourist destinations across ten districts in Koshi Province.

The trip included media professionals from Sikkim, West Bengal, and Bihar from Indiaalong withten journalists from Kathmandu. During the tour, tourism stakeholders from both India and Nepal engaged in open discussions about opportunities, challenges, and the potential for cross-border collaboration in tourism development.

According to the Nepal Tourism Board, a total of 577,689 international tourists visited Nepal during the first half of 2025, showcasing a steady global interest in Nepal as a travel destination. This reflects a full (101%) recovery compared to 2019 levels, signaling a positive trend in the tourism sector.

As per data released by the Nepal Rastra Bank, tourism income increased by 8.6%, reaching INR 75.71 billion in the ten-month period ending mid-May 2025. This is a notable rise from INR 69.73 billion during the same period last year.

PramodGiri, founder-director of Siliguri-based The Himal World digital media house, described the media tour as a mutually beneficial initiative. “This effort will not only boost tourism in Nepal but also provide media professionals with firsthand knowledge to share back home. Successful tourism promotion depends on coordination between both countries and active media involvement,” he said.

AchutPuri, a media delegate from Kathmandu, welcomed the initiative, stating that Nepal's efforts to attract Indian tourists, particularly through religious tourism, are beginning to show results, with Indian media now actively promoting Nepali destinations.

Tourism entrepreneur BasudevBaral, who led the media delegation across eight hill districts and two plains districts in Koshi Province, said the tour was a preparatory step for the upcoming “Visit Nepal Year” campaign.

“Nepal offers a vast and diverse tourism experience, from snow-capped mountains and scenic landscapes to historical sites and rich cultural traditions. The hospitality of our bilingual people and the natural beauty of Nepal make it a top destination for Indian and other international visitors,” said Baral.