Kathmandu, Feb 1 (NationPress) Nepal has kicked off the tourism season with an optimistic tone in January, witnessing a remarkable increase in tourist arrivals by over 15 percent year-on-year, reaching a total of 92,573. This surge comes as a relief following concerns of a downturn triggered by political turmoil in September of the previous year, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

As reported by the NTB, this number is also 14 percent higher than the arrivals recorded in January 2019, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the aftermath of the GenZ protests that led to the tragic loss of 77 lives and inflicted damages exceeding NPR 84 billion, there were widespread fears of a severe impact on Nepal's tourism industry.

Many foreign-branded hotels, such as the Hyatt Regency and Hilton, suffered extensive damage during the unrest. The Hilton was completely destroyed by fire, while the Hyatt remains closed for repairs.

This situation led the World Bank to anticipate a significant reduction in foreign tourist arrivals in the coming months. However, after a decline in September, Nepal has since experienced a steady increase in foreign visitors, demonstrating the resilience of the tourism sector.

Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, remarked that the growth in arrivals during the first month of 2026 suggests a gradual restoration of confidence in Nepal as a travel destination in the international tourism market.

“Our efforts in destination promotion over recent years, improvements in air connectivity, a rising interest in adventure and cultural tourism, and a better image of Nepal in global markets have been pivotal in boosting tourist arrivals,” he stated.

“These encouraging statistics affirm that Nepal is steadily establishing itself as a premier destination for memorable experiences.”

According to NTB statistics, India led the charge in tourist arrivals for January, contributing 26,624 visitors, which accounts for 28.8 percent of total arrivals.

This was followed by China with 9,101 tourists (9.8 percent), the United States with 8,406 (9.1 percent), Bangladesh with 5,814 (6.3 percent), and Australia with 4,957 visitors (5.4 percent).

Regionally, South Asian countries (SAARC) made up 39.3 percent of total arrivals, followed by other Asian nations at 26.1 percent, Europe at 12.3 percent, the Americas at 10.8 percent, and Oceania at 5.7 percent.

Tourists from the Middle East accounted for 1 percent of arrivals, while Africa contributed 0.4 percent. Other regions collectively represented 4.5 percent of the total.

In the year 2025, Nepal welcomed 1.15 million foreign tourists, marking a 1 percent increase from 2024.