Foreign tourist arrivals in Nepal rose to 88,248 in September 2026, marking a 12.1 percent increase compared to the 78,711 visitors in the same month last year, according to data from the Nepal Tourism Board.
Tourist Arrivals by Region in September 2026
Visitors from South Asia accounted for the largest share with 30,085 arrivals. China contributed 11,212 tourists, Europe saw 15,148 visitors, Oceania accounted for 5,422 arrivals, the United States had 10,107 tourists, the Middle East registered 2,606, and Africa 424 tourists.
Growth Among Chinese and South Asian Visitors
Chinese tourists increased by more than 58 percent year-on-year to 11,212 arrivals, more than doubling from 5,237 last year. South Asian countries led the regional
arrivals, with India providing 17,425 visitors, Sri Lanka 7,108, Bangladesh 3,964, Bhutan 1,111, and Pakistan 429 tourists.
Decline in European and Oceanian Arrivals
Tourist arrivals from Europe declined by 8.7 percent to 15,148 in September 2026. The European visitor count included 3,725 from the United Kingdom, 1,974 from Germany, 1,389 from France, 1,120 from Spain, and 910 from Italy. Arrivals from Oceania dropped by 25.9 percent to 5,422 visitors, with 4,842 from Australia and 580 from New Zealand.
Changes in American, Middle Eastern, and African Visitor Numbers
The number of tourists from the United States decreased from 11,523 last year to 10,107 in September 2026. Arrivals from the Middle East rose by 11.9 percent to
2,606, while tourists from African countries increased by 23.3 percent to 424.
Context on Tourism Resilience
Despite facing continuous natural disasters in the two months preceding September 2026, Nepal’s tourist arrivals still increased, showing resilience in the sector, as reported by the Nepal Tourism Board.
