Nepal Sees Steady Tourist Influx in March 2026 Amid Regional Challenges

Kathmandu. In March 2026, Nepal welcomed 120,516 foreign tourists. According to data released by the Nepal Tourism Board, there has been a significant increase in the number of tourists arriving from South Asian and other Asian countries during the month of March.

According to the data, 42,668 tourists arrived in Nepal from South Asian (SAARC) countries alone in March 2026, which is approximately 35.4 percent of the total arrivals. Of these, the highest number of tourists, 25,728, came from India. 10,759 tourists from Sri Lanka and 4,676 from Bangladesh visited Nepal. The high number of tourists from India shows that religious, cultural, and short-term travel trends remain strong.

Similarly, the number of tourists from other Asian countries also appears encouraging. 11,220 tourists from China, 6,020 from Myanmar, and 3,897 from Thailand visited Nepal. There was also a significant arrival from Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea. In total, 33,436 tourists arrived from the 'Other Asia' region, which is about 27.7 percent of the total arrivals.

Although there has not been a significant increase in the number of tourists from European and American markets, it remains stable. The Board stated that the ongoing war in West Asia has affected the growth of tourist arrivals from Europe and America. However, even though the number of tourists from Europe and America is lower compared to the Asian market, their contribution as high-spending tourists is considered significant.

In March 2025, 121,687 foreign tourists entered Nepal, while before the start of COVID-19, 127,351 arrivals were recorded in the same month. In February 2026, 105,441 tourists arrived.

March-April is seen as a month of increased arrivals due to weather, trekking seasons, and other factors. However, the escalating war in West Asia during this year's main season has affected international flights, and the 'travel advisories' issued by the respective countries have prevented a significant increase.

Especially in this season, the number of tourists coming to Nepal for mountain climbing, trekking, adventure tourism, and cultural tours tends to increase compared to other months.

Deepak Raj Joshi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Board, said that the arrival data is not disappointing even with global conflicts and affected international flights. He said, "Even though arrivals from Europe and America have decreased slightly, the increase in tourist arrivals from neighboring countries like India is a positive sign."

"We are also working by prioritizing promotional programs to cash in on the neighboring markets. Along with this, we are strengthening our presence in high-spending tourist markets like Europe and America through international marts," he added.

CEO Joshi said that while there is no need to panic looking at the current data, there is also no room for complacency. He said, "Especially as the situation in West Asia becomes uncertain, it may affect the global tourism market in the coming days. Therefore, the Nepal Tourism Board has developed alternative market expansion strategies with a balanced and sustainable approach."