KATHMANDU: The number of non-Indian tourists entering Nepal via the eastern border checkpoint of Kakarbhitta has seen a significant increase in 2024.
According to Indra Kumar Rajbanshi, the Information Officer at the Immigration Office in Kakarbhitta, 6,111 non-Indian tourists entered Nepal in 2024, a notable rise from the 3,125 who entered in 2023.
This marks an increase of 2,976 tourists compared to the previous year.
The surge in tourist arrivals comes after a long period of obstruction by India. During the Covid pandemic, India had closed the Panitanki border checkpoint at Kakarbhitta to non-Indian tourists for an extended period, preventing their entry into Nepal.
However, the checkpoint was reopened for tourists on August 1, 2024, following high-level negotiations. Since then, the flow of tourists has gradually returned to normal.
Uday Kumar Shrestha, the former president of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATA) in the Koshi Province, noted that the reopening of the Panitanki border crossing has played a crucial role in boosting the number of tourists visiting Nepal.
“Although business transactions resumed after the pandemic, Indian restrictions on tourist entry remained,” Shrestha said. “After India allowed tourists to enter in August, the flow has returned to its previous rhythm.”
Tourists from Bhutan, in particular, have contributed to the increased numbers.
In 2024, 4,916 Bhutanese tourists entered Nepal via land from Kakarbhitta, up from just 2,931 in 2023. Rajbanshi attributed this rise to the provision of free 30-day visas for SAARC country citizens, which has made Nepal an attractive destination for Bhutanese travelers, particularly for religious tourism.
The free visa policy has contributed significantly to Nepal’s appeal, with tourists from Bhutan coming to visit sacred sites and cultural landmarks.
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