KATHMANDU: In the first eight months of 2024, Nepal witnessed a notable surge in foreign visitor visits, with 720,334 tourists taking trips there between January and August. August had an 8.3% increase in foreign visitors from July to 72,719, a significant increase over the 67,153 tourists that were registered in August 2023.

Maniraj Lamichhane, the director of the Nepal Tourism Board, attributed the increase to recent increases in the number of visitors and voiced optimism for further growth, particularly from China and India, two of the nation's neighbors. August 2024 saw 25,832 tourists visit India, with the highest number coming from China (6,614), the US (5,614), Sri Lanka (4,851), and Bangladesh (3,777).

Throughout 2024, monthly tourism data revealed notable swings; 111,376 visits were recorded in March and April, which were the busiest months. At 64,599, July had the fewest arrivals. 79,100 tourists visited in January, 97,426 in February, 90,211 in May, and 76,736 in June.

The government has set an ambitious aim as part of the 'Visit Nepal Decade' and the 'Tourism Strategy Plan (2016-25)', hoping to draw in 1.6 million foreign tourists this year. This strategy asks for constructing new tourist destinations, enhancing existing infrastructure, and advertising Nepal on a national and international level. The Tourism Department is also focused on improving 100 new tourist destinations in an effort to increase the number of visitors.