Nepal Welcomes Over 88,000 Tourists in September as Chinese Arrivals Double While Western Markets Decline

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 1, 2026

Nepal Welcomes Over 88,000 Tourists in September

Nepal welcomed 88,248 international tourists in September 2026, a 12.1% increase from 78,711 in September 2025, according to Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) figures compiled from Department of Immigration data. The figures, released as Nepal enters its popular autumn tourism season, show strong growth from India, China and other Asian countries, alongside declining arrivals from several Western markets. The increase is significant for Nepal’s tourism industry, which supports hotels, airlines, trekking agencies and local businesses.

This is the Nepal Tourism Board’s September 2026 arrival table, and it resolves the earlier uncertainty about Oceania. The official figures show 88,248 international arrivals, up 12.1%, with China recording particularly strong growth.

There are also two important corrections to the previous newsletter: Oceania declined by 25.9%, not 29%, and South Asian arrivals increased by 23.9%, with India remaining Nepal’s largest source market.

India Remains Nepal’s Largest Source of Tourists

India remained Nepal’s largest source of international tourists, with 17,425 visitors in September, accounting for 19.75% of total arrivals.

Overall, Nepal received 30,085 visitors from South Asian countries, representing 34.09% of all international arrivals and a 23.9% increase compared with September 2025. Sri Lanka contributed 7,108 tourists, followed by Bangladesh with 3,964 and Bhutan with 1,111.

Chinese Tourist Arrivals More Than Double

China recorded one of the strongest increases among Nepal’s major tourism markets, with 11,212 visitors in September 2026, compared with 5,237 during the same month last year. This represents a 114.1% increase, making China Nepal’s second-largest individual source market for the month.

Other Asian countries also recorded growth. Japan contributed 2,066 visitors, Malaysia 1,877 and South Korea 1,412. Overall, arrivals from Asian countries outside South Asia increased by 58%, reaching 19,888.

Western Tourist Arrivals Decline Despite Overall Growth

Despite the overall increase in visitors, Nepal experienced declining arrivals from Europe, the Americas and Oceania.

European arrivals fell by 8.7% to 15,148, with the United Kingdom recording a 25.2% decline to 3,725 visitors. Germany also recorded an 11.5% decrease, while France and Italy experienced growth.

Arrivals from the Americas declined by 12.3% to 10,107. The United States remained the region’s largest source market, contributing 8,299 visitors, although this represented a 14.3% decrease compared with September 2025.

Australia Records a Sharp Decline

Oceania recorded 5,422 tourist arrivals in September, down 25.9% from 7,314 during the same month last year.

Australia accounted for most of the region’s visitors, with 4,842 arrivals, a 29% decrease. In contrast, arrivals from New Zealand increased by 18.4% to 580.

Middle Eastern and African Markets Show Growth

Nepal received 2,606 visitors from the Middle East, an 11.9% increase from September 2025. Israel contributed 1,957 tourists, while Turkey recorded 434 arrivals.

African arrivals also increased by 23.3%, reaching 424 visitors. South Africa contributed 182 tourists, followed by Egypt with 123 and Morocco with 119.

What Do These Numbers Mean for Nepal’s Tourism Industry?

The September figures show that Asian markets are playing an increasingly important role in Nepal’s international tourism. Growth from China, India and other neighboring countries contributed significantly to the overall increase in arrivals.

However, declining visitor numbers from Europe, the Americas and Oceania show that tourism growth remains uneven. The September statistics do not establish the reasons for these regional differences, which may require further examination of travel demand, air connectivity and visitor preferences.

Can Nepal Maintain Its Growth During the Autumn Season?

September marks the beginning of Nepal’s popular autumn travel season, attracting visitors interested in trekking, mountaineering, sightseeing and cultural experiences.

While the increase in Asian visitors provides opportunities for Nepal’s tourism businesses, the decline in several long-distance markets remains an important development to monitor. Tourist arrival figures for October and November will offer a clearer picture of the country’s performance during the remainder of the autumn season.

Source: Nepal Tourism Board