KATHMANDU: Nepal witnessed a remarkable resurgence in its tourism sector, with more than one million foreign tourists arriving via air in 2023.

According to data from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), precisely 1,008,614 tourists have visited the country as of 5:00 am Saturday morning, surpassing the government’s goal set in the current fiscal year budget.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism, a critical sector for Nepal, has been mitigated as the industry has nearly regained its pre-pandemic vigor.

The NTB reports an impressive 85 percent recovery in tourism this year, signaling a positive trajectory for the country’s economy.

In 2019, Nepal hosted around 1.2 million foreign tourists, and this year’s influx, exceeding one million visitors, is being hailed as an encouraging sign by NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane.

Most of these tourists have arrived through the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

Binayak Shah, President of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), anticipates a continued surge in tourist arrivals in the coming days, especially if the government strengthens its collaboration with the private sector.

The government’s commitment to promoting tourism is evident in its declaration of 2025 as the Visit Nepal Year and the ongoing celebration of the tourism decade from 2023 to 2032, with a target of attracting 3.5 million tourists.

Noteworthy is the significant increase in the number of Indian tourists, reaching 317,481 this year compared to 254,150 in 2019.

American tourists also showed a rise, with 99,985 arrivals in 2023 compared to 93,241 in 2019.

Additionally, the number of Chinese tourists has seen a gradual increase, recording 60,160 visits this year compared to 169,543 in 2019.

As the government gears up for the Visit Nepal Year and the broader tourism decade, these positive trends augur well for Nepal’s continued growth in the global tourism landscape.