Nepal tourism growth is gaining strong momentum in 2025, driven largely by a surge in visitors from India and the United States. Recent government data shows a steady increase in tourist arrivals, reflecting a clear revival of the country’s tourism sector after years of challenges.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Indian tourists accounted for 27.7% of visitors to Nepal in 2024. They were followed by tourists from the United States at 9.67%, China at 8.89%, the United Kingdom at 4.79%, and Bangladesh at 4.27%. Other countries including Australia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Germany, and South Korea also contributed notable shares. Tourists from other nations made up 30.57% of the total.
Tourist arrivals in Nepal increased by 13% in the past year. By mid-January 2025, the total number of visitors reached 1,147,548, up from 1,014,882 in mid-January 2024. This growth signals renewed interest and confidence in Nepal as a travel destination.
The Economic Survey from the Ministry of Finance sheds light on visitor motivations. It shows that 60.4% of tourists came for holiday and recreation. Another 15.3% visited for pilgrimage, while 14.5% were drawn by mountaineering and adventure activities. The remaining 9.8% traveled for various other reasons.
Tourism revenue is also on the rise. In 2023, Nepal earned Rs 72.45 billion from tourism. This figure jumped by 15% to Rs 83.39 billion in 2024. The rise in earnings reflects not only increased tourist numbers but also growth in tourism-related businesses and services.
Average tourist spending and stay length saw slight changes in 2024. Tourists stayed an average of 13.3 days, up marginally from 13.2 days in 2023. Daily spending per tourist was about USD 40.8, a small decrease from USD 41 the previous year.
Mountaineering remains a key attraction, with expedition teams increasing by 5.42% in 2024. However, the number of individual climbers dipped slightly from 9,398 in 2023 to 9,191. This decline led to a 7.4% drop in royalty revenue from mountaineering, falling from Rs 999.3 million to Rs 925.8 million.
Skilled personnel production in the tourism sector is growing steadily. The Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management reports that 28,233 trained individuals have graduated so far, supporting the expanding industry.
Hotel infrastructure is also expanding rapidly. The number of five-star and deluxe hotels rose from 182 in mid-March 2024 to 214 by mid-March 2025. Similarly, deluxe and luxury heritage boutique hotels, along with tourist-standard hotels, lodges, and resorts, increased from 1,234 to 1,364 in the same period.
Bed capacity in star-rated hotels increased by 3,270 to reach a total of 20,343 beds by mid-March 2025. Beds in deluxe heritage boutique hotels, lodges, and resorts also rose by 5,202, totaling 42,299 beds.
Nepal’s casino industry is growing, with 29 casinos operating by mid-March 2025, up from 26 in mid-2024. Of these, nine are traditional casinos while 20 rely mainly on modern gaming machines.
The growth in tourist numbers has encouraged expansion in travel-related services. As of mid-March 2025, Nepal had 4,963 registered travel agencies, 3,252 trekking agencies, and 97 packing agencies. Tourist transport services numbered 155, while tour guides, trekking guides, and river guides totaled 5,269, 27,128, and 425 respectively.
Overall, Nepal tourism growth in 2025 shows a promising upward trend. Increased arrivals, expanding hotel infrastructure, and rising revenue suggest the sector is on track for further development. With Indian tourists leading the surge and adventure activities gaining popularity, Nepal is reinforcing its status as a top destination in South Asia.
