Nepal Tourism Sector Faces Investment Decline Amidst Unimplemented Policies, Survey Shows Recovery

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Stakeholders warn that Nepal's tourism sector is experiencing an investment decline due to the non-implementation of formulated policies, impacting investor confidence and the tourism economy. Despite these challenges, the Economic Survey 2082/83 indicates a positive recovery trend, with foreign tourist arrivals increasing by 1.3 percent to 1,162,365 in 2025 and the average length of stay rising to 16.34 days.

• The Economic Survey 2082/83 reveals that entertainment and cultural travel are the primary attractions for tourists in Nepal, with 60.2 percent visiting for entertainment.
• In 2025, 9,820 mountaineers from 2,590 teams climbed the Himalayas, generating 1 Arba 26 Crore 26 Lakh Rupees in government royalties.
• Nepal has bilateral air service agreements with 42 countries, and currently, 32 international airlines operate flights, serving 35 airports.
• Bagmati Province leads in tourism infrastructure with a 36.7 percent share, while Karnali Province has only a 4.2 percent share.
• Former CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, Deepak Raj Joshi, highlighted the significant cost of zero program implementation from the budget and the loss of a 'value-driven' market due to a lack of direct air connectivity with Europe for 14 years.