KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 1

A total of 692,372 foreign tourists visited Nepal in the first nine months of this year, showing a strong recovery in the country's tourism sector compared to the 230,085 tourists who had arrived in the country in 2020 and 150,962 in 2021.

As per the latest data unveiled by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) today, the country welcomed a total of 91,012 tourists by air in September, which is a substantial increase from the 58,314 tourists who arrived in the corresponding month of 2022, 9,907 in September of 2021, and just 584 in September of 2020.

As per NTB, the arrivals saw 98.28 per cent recovery last month compared to the corresponding month before the pandemic.

The arrivals are about to recover to the pre-pandemic level, when 92,604 tourists had visited Nepal in September of 2019.

According to NTB Director Mani Raj Lamichhane, the tourist arrivals in September, reflecting a 98 per cent recovery when compared to the corresponding period in 2019, is undoubtedly a positive indicator.

In September, India emerged as the top source country for tourists visiting Nepal, with a total of 28,694 Indian nationals entering the country.

Following the relaxation of COVID restrictions this year, China - Nepal's northern neighbour - came in the second position with 8,174.

The United States was the third-largest source country of tourists visiting Nepal in September, with a total of 7,364 American nationals arriving in the country.

Bangladesh secured fourth position with 3,716 Bangladeshi tourists visiting Nepal in September.

Lamichhane expressed optimism regarding Nepal's tourism sector, stating, 'We hold strong hopes that Nepal's tourism industry can make an even more robust comeback this year, ultimately achieving our target of welcoming one million tourists.'

A version of this article appears in the print on October 2, 2023, of The Himalayan Times