Tourist arrivals rise in September despite disasters, Chinese visitors double

Despite disasters, the number of foreign tourists arriving in Nepal by air increased in September 2026. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, around 88,200 tourists entered the country last month, nearly 12 percent more than around 78,700 in the same month last year.

Arrivals rose even though there were concerns that the Bhotekoshi flood and the rains from Asoj 8 to 11 would reduce numbers. Chinese tourists more than doubled, from around 5,200 last year to around 11,200.

India became the top source country with around 17,400 tourists. Around 7,100 tourists came from Sri Lanka, nearly 4,000 from Bangladesh, and around 2,000 from Japan. The around 30,000 tourists from South Asian countries accounted for about 34 percent of total arrivals.

Around 19,900 tourists came from China, Japan and other Asian countries, nearly 58 percent more than last year. Arrivals from Europe, a traditional market, fell by nearly 9 percent to around 15,100. From the Americas, only around 10,100 tourists came this time, compared with around 11,500 last year.