US, India, and China Help Drive Thirteen Percent Growth in Nepal Tourism Sector, Welcoming Over One Million Tourists in 2024, Signaling a Strong Recovery Post-Pandemic

A large portion of tourists, 60.4%, visit Nepal for leisure, recreation, and travel. Pilgrimage tourism represents 15.3%, while mountaineering and adventure activities account for 14.5%. Other purposes, including business and educational tourism, contribute the remaining 9.8%.

The economic benefits of the tourism sector are evident in the rise of revenue. In 2023, tourism revenue totaled NPR 72.45 billion, increasing by 15% to reach NPR 83.39 billion in 2024. This growth is fueled by both the increase in tourist arrivals and their expenditure patterns. In 2023, the average length of stay for tourists was 13.2 days, with a daily spending rate of USD 41. By 2024, this length of stay had increased marginally to 13.3 days, with daily spending averaging USD 40.8.

Mountaineering continues to be a major attraction for visitors. The number of expedition teams grew by 5.42% in 2024. However, the total number of individual climbers slightly declined, from 9,398 in 2023 to 9,191 in 2024, resulting in a decrease in mountaineering royalty revenue by 7.4%, dropping from NPR 999.3 million to NPR 925.8 million.

Nepal's casino sector has experienced similar growth, with the number of operational casinos rising from 26 in mid-2024 to 29 in March 2025. This includes both traditional casinos and those operated with modern gaming equipment.