Nepal Tourism Statistic 2023

Nepal, a beautiful landlocked country located at the foot of the Himalayas in South Asia, is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and ecological diversity, making it an attractive destination for tourists worldwide. However, the tourism industry in Nepal faces various challenges, including infrastructure constraints, management issues, political instability, natural disasters, and environmental sustainability concerns.

Nepal is a wonderful destination for tourists due to its unmatched natural beauty, diverse climates, and rich cultural heritage. It boasts eight of the world’s ten highest mountains within its boundaries, making it a prime destination for mountaineers, trekkers, and rock climbers from all over the world. Nepal’s cultural and natural diversity is well-preserved in its four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The tourism industry is a significant contributor to Nepal’s economy, accounting for 1% of the Gross Domestic Product by earnings in 2023.

The average expense per visitor per day in 2022-2023 was USD 41, and it is the fourth-largest industry in terms of employment, providing 11.5% of the jobs. Most tourism businesses (43.6%) are located in Bagmati Province. Tourism-related industries constitute 21.9% of all registered industries, with 33% of foreign direct investment-receiving industries being related to tourism. The average tourist length of stay in Nepal is 13.1 days, and the country has bilateral air services agreements with 42 countries.

Despite these challenges, the government has successfully achieved its target of attracting one million foreign tourists to Nepal by 2023. In the Budget Speech for the Fiscal Year 2023/24, the government announced that the years 2023-2032 would be celebrated as the Decade of Tourism in Nepal, aiming to increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the national GDP by 10%, tourist spending capacity from $48 to $125, create direct jobs for one million people in the tourism sector, and restore Nepal’s position as a top tourist destination.

To achieve this goal, the government is promoting domestic tourism with the slogan “Nepal Ghumaun, Nepal Chinaun” (Travel Nepal, Know Nepal) and aims to improve the quality of tourist services in line with the Nepali culture of “Atithi Devo Bhava” (Guest is God) to attract more foreign tourists to the country.

The tourism industry in Nepal plays a vital role in the country’s economy, as it contributes to employment generation and foreign exchange earnings. The government’s policies and regulations are designed to focus on sustainable tourism development, cultural heritage preservation, and environmental conservation. Nepal has much to offer its visitors, such as trekking in the Himalayas, exploring religious and cultural sites like Kathmandu Valley, and experiencing wildlife tourism in national parks. It is a virgin destination for adventure lovers globally.

In the year 2022, most of the tourists (64.7 percent) visited Nepal with the purpose of holiday celebration and pleasure. Similarly, 10.03 percent of tourists came for adventure including trekking & mountaineering, 12.87 percent for pilgrimage and the remaining 12.39 percent for other purposes.

Nepal boasts of Heart-pounding treks, exhilarating white-water rafting, serene wildlife safaris, and cultural exploration amidst ancient temples. However, the journey hasn’t been smooth. Political instability and natural disasters like the 2015 earthquake impacted tourist arrivals. The recent COVID-19 pandemic delivered another negative blow, but Nepal’s resilience shines through. Tourist numbers are steadily rising again, with the government actively promoting sustainable practices for long-term success.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) partnered with SNV/Nepal to create a National Tourism Strategy Plan with a 10-year horizon and a 5-year Action. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was commissioned to formulate this plan. The National Tourism Strategy Plan (NTSB) 2014-2023 consists of two phases, Phase 1 (2014 to 2018) and Phase 2 (2019 to 2023). On December 25, 2022, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation unveiled the strategic framework for the Nepal Tourism Decade 2023-2032. The objective of this plan is to bring in 3.5 million tourists in the next 10 years. Prime Minister Prachanda has set a target of doubling tourist arrivals to 20 lakhs by 2024. To achieve this goal, he has urged the activation of the Tourism Decade program and infrastructure development. This increase in tourist arrivals is encouraging for Nepal’s tourism industry and suggests that growth and prosperity will continue in the years to come.

A framework has been developed by a four-member expert panel, led by the former CEO of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Prachanda Man Shrestha. The framework aims to achieve ambitious targets such as increasing tourist spending to USD 125 daily from the current USD 48, creating one million direct jobs in the tourism sector, and increasing the sector’s contribution to the national GDP from 6.7 to 10 percent. The government has planned to bring the tourist numbers to pre-pandemic levels by 2024 and increase arrivals in each subsequent year by 15 percent.

Tourism campaigns will be held across various provinces of the country in the coming decade. The preparation year for these campaigns was 2023, and the campaign year will be 2024 in Bagmati Province, 2025 in Gandaki Province, 2027 in Lumbini Province, and 2028 in Madesh Province. The campaigns will be organized in SudurPaschhim, Province 1, and Karnali Province in 2029, 2030, and 2031 respectively. In 2026 and 2032, national-level programs will be conducted to guide the overall development of tourism while promoting sustainable tourism practices and community involvement. A campaign with the slogan “Visit Nepal, Know Nepal” will be launched to promote domestic tourism. Local festivals, cultures, jatras, and tourist destinations will be promoted, and the expansion of inter-provincial aviation services will be encouraged.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) is responsible for overseeing tourism activities and granting permits in Nepal. There are regulations in place that cover various areas such as trekking, mountaineering, and eco-tourism. Both tour operators and tourists should be familiar with these regulations to navigate the permit processes and ensure adherence to environmental and cultural preservation standards.

According to the Ministry of Finance’s Economic Survey 2079/80, the average stay of tourists in Nepal did not exceed 15 days in the past decade except for 2020 and 2021. These two years coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the average stay of tourists in Nepal reached 15 days.

The tourism industry in Nepal is witnessing a swift resurgence, with a notable surge in tourist numbers in 2023. The total number of visitors reached 1,014,882, representing a 65.05% increase from the previous year. Additionally, there have been significant changes in the top five countries of origin for tourists. In 2023, India made up 31.52% of arrivals, followed by the USA (9.88%), China (5.99%), the U.K. (5.20%), Australia (3.82%), and Bangladesh (3.59%). Of the total tourists, 914,270 (90.09%) arrived by air, while 100,612 (9.91%) came by land.

Tourists’ length of stay Year Days 

2022-2023 – 13.1 Days

2021 – 15.5 Days

2020 – 15.1 Days

Average expense per visitor Year Expense 

2023 $41

2022 $40.5

2021 $48

2020 $65 

Tourism Earnings Year Expense 

2022 $326.28m

2021 $112.50m

2020 $217m

The Nepal Tourism Decade 2023-2032 will be implemented in four phases:

Phase 1 (2023)	Consolidation: This phase will focus on consolidating the gains made during the previous phases, and on ensuring that Nepal remains a competitive tourism destination.
Phase 2 (2024-2027)	Preparation: This phase focuses on developing and implementing marketing and promotional campaigns, and on improving infrastructure and services.
Phase 3 (2028-2031)	National FocusThis phase will focus on promoting Nepal as a year-round destination, and on attracting more tourists from new markets.
Phase 4 (2032)	Consolidation:This phase will focus on consolidating the gains made during the previous phases, and on ensuring that Nepal remains a competitive tourism destination.

Source: mteveresttoday

Momentum to Continue in 2024

With the World Bank and the IMF projecting strong growth in tourism, 2024 looks promising. The potential doubling of tourist arrivals to 2 million is a realistic target, especially with the promotion of new international airports in Bhairahawa and Pokhara

COUNTRY-WISE ARRIVAL DATA OF 2023

SN	Country	Male	Female	Total
1	Afghanistan	122	16	138
2	Albania	33	48	81
3	Algeria	174	100	274
4	American Samoa	6	2	8
5	Andorra	16	21	37
6	Angola	3	5	8
7	Antigua and Barbuda	27	9	36
8	Argentina	619	911	1530
9	Armenia	87	106	193
10	Australia	20790	18004	38798
11	Austria	2137	1940	4077
12	Azerbaijan	66	50	116
13	Bahamas	11	5	16
14	Bahrain	331	44	375
15	Bangladesh	28362	8113	36483
16	Barbados	1	2	3
17	Belarus	261	321	582
18	Belgium	3127	2643	5770
19	Belize	4	2	6
20	Benin	19	0	19
21	Bermuda	0	0	0
22	Bhutan	5888	5560	11450
23	Bolivia	38	30	68
24	Bosnia and Herzegovina	26	44	70
25	Botswana	6	17	23
26	Brazil	1707	1563	3271
27	British Virgin Islands	3	1	4
28	Brunei Darussalam	34	40	74
29	Bulgaria	330	381	711
30	Burkina Faso	5	2	7
31	Burundi	5	6	11
32	Cambodia	1103	1483	2586
33	Cameroon	67	9	76
34	Canada	7839	6851	14690
35	Cape Verde	7	0	7
36	Chad	5	0	5
37	Chile	356	435	791
38	China	33773	27062	60878
39	Colombia	414	485	899
40	Comoros	25	3	28
41	Congo	13	9	22
42	Costa Rica	138	133	271
43	Cote d’Ivoire	79	9	88
44	Country of Residence	13	5	18
45	Croatia	281	261	542
46	Cuba	14	33	47
47	Cyprus	164	96	260
48	Czech Republic	2106	1566	3672
49	Democratic Republic of the Congo	24	9	33
50	Denmark	1774	1954	3728
51	Djibouti	5	0	5
52	Dominica	65	9	74
53	Dominican Republic	12	22	34
54	Ecuador	169	138	307
55	Egypt	1155	439	1594
56	El Salvador	70	39	109
57	Equatorial Guinea	1	1	2
58	Eritrea	14	7	21
59	Estonia	201	238	439
60	Ethiopia	133	147	280
61	European Union	54	48	102
62	Fiji	65	75	140
63	Finland	891	1000	1891
64	France	11808	11360	23168
65	French Polynesia	2	0	2
66	Gabon	1	1	2
67	Gambia	4	1	5
68	Georgia	117	114	231
69	Germany	14091	12885	26980
70	Ghana	113	103	216
71	Gibraltar	3	1	4
72	Greece	716	709	1426
73	Greenland	0	2	2
74	Grenada	8	3	11
75	Guatemala	50	57	107
76	Guernsey	2	0	2
77	Guinea	13	1	14
78	Guinea-Bissau	1	1	2
79	Guyana	5	5	10
80	Haiti	1	4	5
81	Holy See (Vatican City)	14	0	14
82	Honduras	22	17	39
83	Hong Kong (Chinese special administrative region)	1463	2009	3473
84	Hungary	901	916	1817
85	Iceland	180	167	347
86	India	203865	115804	319936
87	Indonesia	2109	2660	4769
88	Iran, Islamic Republic of	828	739	1567
89	Iraq	54	16	70
90	Ireland	1520	1267	2787
91	Isle of Man	6	3	9
92	Israel	3527	2887	6417
93	Italy	6801	6145	12948
94	Jamaica	26	41	67
95	Japan	9587	6874	16463
96	Jersey	12	15	27
97	Jordan	458	166	625
98	Kazakhstan	312	490	802
99	Kenya	379	409	788
100	Kiribati	1	0	1
101	Kosovo	17	20	37
102	Kuwait	942	213	1155
103	Kyrgyzstan	88	281	369
104	Lao People’s Democratic Republic	378	319	697
105	Laos	12	7	19
106	Latvia	241	310	551
107	Lebanon	520	247	767
108	Lesotho	2	2	4
109	Liberia	21	1	22
110	Libyan Arab Jamahiriya	8	2	10
111	Liechtenstein	13	5	18
112	Lithuania	311	421	732
113	Luxembourg	180	149	329
114	Macao Special Administrative Region of China	39	76	115
115	Madagascar	17	14	31
116	Malawi	13	20	33
117	Malaysia	9396	9410	18807
118	Maldives	324	230	554
119	Mali	15	3	18
120	Malta	104	100	204
121	Marshall Islands	1	1	2
122	Mauritania	4	0	4
123	Mauritius	332	222	554
124	Mexico	1306	1549	2855
125	Moldova	53	66	119
126	Monaco	2	3	5
127	Mongolia	260	371	631
128	Montenegro	26	17	43
129	Morocco	396	611	1007
130	Mozambique	15	15	30
131	Myanmar	4557	8371	12929
132	Namibia	30	11	41
133	Netherlands	5477	5241	10718
134	Netherlands Antilles	1	1	2
135	New Caledonia	2	4	6
136	New Zealand	1884	1686	3574
137	Nicaragua	11	14	25
138	Niger	10	1	11
139	Nigeria	65	48	113
140	North Korea	12	1	13
141	North Macedonia	16	9	25
142	North Sudan	12	5	17
143	Norway	1170	1454	2624
144	Occupied Palestinian Territory	22	16	38
145	Oman	245	62	307
146	Other	14	8	22
147	Pakistan	3574	1331	4908
148	Palau	0	1	1
149	Panama	22	18	40
150	Papua New Guinea	31	10	41
151	Paraguay	16	16	32
152	Peru	124	159	283
153	Philippines	1608	4318	5928
154	Poland	3027	2948	5977
155	Portugal	2602	1731	4334
156	Puerto Rico	0	1	1
157	Qatar	199	56	255
158	R_union	4	4	8
159	Refugee (as defined in Article 1)	495	232	727
160	Refugee (other than as defined under the code XXB above)	21	9	30
161	Romania	919	1100	2019
162	Russia	5851	6204	12060
163	Rwanda	43	36	79
164	Saint Kitts and Nevis	52	19	71
165	Saint Lucia	14	3	17
166	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	4	0	4
167	Samoa	2	4	6
168	San Marino	1	4	5
169	Sao Tome and Principe	1	1	2
170	Saudi Arabia	881	195	1076
171	Senegal	41	18	59
172	Serbia	280	282	562
173	Seychelles	3	4	7
174	Sierra Leone	30	17	47
175	Singapore	4435	4617	9052
176	Slovakia	635	480	1115
177	Slovenia	316	303	619
178	Solomon Islands	4	1	5
179	Somalia	7	6	13
180	South Africa	835	968	1803
181	South Korea	11388	12350	23743
182	South Sudan	9	1	10
183	Spain	6446	5946	12393
184	Sri Lanka	8374	13472	21851
185	St.Kitts and Nevis	1	1	2
186	Stateless Person	73	54	127
187	Sudan	279	103	382
188	Suriname	14	8	22
189	Swaziland	6	6	12
190	Sweden	1460	1336	2796
191	Switzerland	3038	3011	6049
192	Syrian Arab Republic	191	55	246
193	Taiwan(China)	2821	4930	7754
194	Tajikistan	53	44	97
195	Thailand	10058	15620	25678
196	The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia	43	47	91
197	Timor-Leste	36	23	59
198	Togo	3	2	5
199	Tonga	1	1	2
200	Trinidad and Tobago	48	51	99
201	Tunisia	362	499	861
202	Turkey	2138	1850	3989
203	Turkmenistan	9	12	21
204	Uganda	71	175	246
205	Ukraine	542	1017	1559
206	United Arab Emirates (UAE)	395	161	556
207	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK)	29284	23579	52866
208	United Nations (UN)	1139	807	1946
209	United Republic of Tanzania	85	69	154
210	United States of America (USA)	53894	46445	100357
211	Uruguay	635	863	1498
212	Uzbekistan	126	307	433
213	Vanuatu	23	5	28
214	Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)	64	67	131
215	Viet Nam	4257	9628	13897
216	Wallis and Futuna Islands	1	0	1
217	Yemen	264	52	316
218	Zambia	42	33	75
219	Zimbabwe	50	79	129
	Total			1014885

Tourism is an essential tool for economic development worldwide as it generates employment opportunities and leads to the establishment of infrastructure. It also enables visitors to explore man-made attractions and natural beauty spots. However, tourism and ecotourism have a significant impact on native ecosystems and species. Scientific research that investigates the effects of tourism provides crucial information that can guide the development of sustainable strategies, influence policies, and enhance the management of destinations, including the protection of natural resources.

A compiled version of Nepal Tourism Statistic 2023

Nepal, a diverse country with varied cultures, languages, religions, and ethnicities, has been promoting a limited range of attractions to attract tourists, including nature, mountains, hiking, and jungle safaris. Connect with us and feel the difference!