Nepal Sees a Surge in Foreign Tourists in October, Including Americans, Despite Protests, Violence, and Arson

Despite protests, violence, and arson incidents in Nepal, the number of foreign tourists visiting the country—including Americans—has risen. Arrivals in October showed a significant jump compared to September. October is considered Nepal’s prime tourist season for trekking and mountaineering, attracting visitors from around the world.

According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), a total of 128,443 foreign tourists entered Nepal in October 2025. This figure marks a clear seasonal recovery from the 78,711 foreigners who visited in September, which included 15,556 from India, 9,679 from the United States, 5,237 from China, 3,015 from Sri Lanka, and 2,230 from Bangladesh.

India accounted for the highest number of tourist arrivals in October, with 17,298 visitors. The United States followed with 13,286 tourists, while 8,718 came from the United Kingdom. Similarly, 6,755 visitors arrived from China and 6,366 from Germany.

European tourists represented the largest regional segment, making up 31.6 percent of total arrivals with 40,060 visitors from European nations. Tourists from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries accounted for 22.6 percent of the total, amounting to 29,060 arrivals, which includes those from India. Meanwhile, 23,127 tourists came from other Asian countries.

Compared to the same month last year, tourist arrivals in October 2025 increased by a modest 3.3 percent from the 124,391 visitors recorded in October 2024. Although the 2025 figure remains below the pre-pandemic peak of 134,096 arrivals recorded in October 2019.

For the first ten months of 2025, Nepal welcomed a total of 943,716 tourists, slightly higher than the 941,024 visitors recorded during the same period in 2024.

The American tourist arrivals, which ranked second behind India in both years, saw a notable dip compared to October 2024. The 13,286 visitors in October 2025 mark a decline of approximately 17.1 percent from the 16,023 who arrived in October 2024. However, compared to October 2019, when 12,109 Americans visited Nepal, the 2025 numbers show a 9.8 percent increase.

Last week, The Consulate General of Nepal in New York appealed to U.S. travel industry leaders at the PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Trade Show in Manhattan, urging them to feature Nepal prominently in their upcoming travel packages.

Mr. Dadhiram Bhandari, the Consul General, utilized the platform to address travel and tour entrepreneurs, emphasizing two key messages: that Nepal is safe for travel and that it offers a diverse range of holiday experiences suitable for all age groups.

The appeal comes at a critical time, following recent protests and acts of arson that inflicted a devastating financial blow on the hotel industry. The Hotel Association of Nepal estimates the total financial damage nationwide exceeds $187.6 million, with approximately two dozen hotels, including major international brands, suffering severe damage from vandalism, arson, and looting. The Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu alone is estimated to have incurred over $60 million in losses.

During the period of unrest, approximately 15,000 foreign tourists were in Nepal. However, following the violence on September 8 and 9, the U.S. Department of State updated its travel advisory from Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) to Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), citing civil unrest and noting the potential for further demonstrations and limited emergency response capacity.

Despite the turmoil and the revised travel advisory, the Consul General highlighted the significance of the American market. “The U.S. is a significant source market for the Nepali tourism industry, as U.S. visitors continue to be the second largest source in the past several months,” Mr. Bhandari said.

Last month, during a community event in Queens, Bhandari had assured U.S. travelers that the country remains a safe destination following recent civil unrest and protests. Bhandari emphatically stated that “no tourists were harmed” during the demonstrations and urged the Nepali diaspora in the United States to actively promote this positive message to support Nepal’s vital tourism industry.

“Nepal is safe to visit,” Mr. Bhandari said. “I want to be clear to the global community: no tourists were harmed during the recent protests. We urge the Nepali diaspora in the U.S. to stand with us, spread this positive message, and support Nepali tourism.”