Nepal received 132,814 international visitors in October 2026, up 3.4 percent from 128,443 in October 2025, according to figures compiled by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) from Department of Immigration data.
The United States became the largest source market for the month, overtaking India.
The increase amounts to 4,371 additional arrivals. The 3.4 percent figure is a year-on-year comparison with October 2025.
Between January and October, Nepal recorded 998,734 arrivals, up 5.83 percent from 943,716 in the same period last year, or 55,018 more.
Top markets
The US sent 17,437 visitors, about 13.1 percent of the total, followed by India with 12,097, China with 11,695, the United Kingdom with 9,385 and Australia with 9,352. Germany (6,114), Sri Lanka (5,560), Bangladesh (4,893), France (4,164) and Myanmar (3,025) also ranked among the larger markets.
US arrivals rose about 31.2 percent from 13,286 in October 2025, and more than doubled from 8,299 in September. Chinese arrivals rose about 73 percent from 6,755, and from 11,212 in September. Indian arrivals fell about 30 percent from 17,298.
Regional picture
Europe contributed the largest regional share, with 39,877 arrivals, about 30 percent of the total and up 163.2 percent from 15,148 a year earlier, an increase of 24,729.
Other Asian countries accounted for 27,040 arrivals (up 16.9 percent), South Asia for 24,053 (down 17.2 percent from 29,060) and the Americas for 21,270 (up 29.6 percent).
Oceania rose 48.9 percent, while the Middle East fell 34.2 percent, Africa 5.0 percent and other markets 9.1 percent.
Why the US moved ahead
Tourism operators said American travellers largely kept their plans despite the August floods. Ganga Bahadur Thapa, managing director of Nepal Hiking Team, said his company, which handles more than 1,200 American travellers a year, received no cancellations from American clients, though some postponed.
Pawan Tuladhar of Dharma Adventures called the US a reliable and growing market and pointed to the presence of international hotel brands.
Operators also suggested part of the rise may come from Nepalis holding American passports who visit during festivals such as Dashain and Tihar. Arrivals are recorded by nationality, not ethnicity.
Why Indian arrivals fell
Tourism operators linked the decline partly to the August 26 floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems, which damaged roads and disrupted routes used by Indian pilgrims heading to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet.
Bimal Naharki, president of the Association of Kailash Tour Operators Nepal, said more than 5,000 Indian pilgrims cancelled September trips and that transport disruption also affected October plans. The route supports businesses in Nepalgunj, Simkot and Hilsa.
Some operators moved clients to other routes after the floods. Nepal Hiking Team offered travellers who had booked Langtang treks the Annapurna Circuit or Everest Base Camp without raising the price.
Annual record
Nepal’s pre-pandemic record is 1,197,191 arrivals in 2019. To beat it, the country needs at least 198,457 more arrivals in November and December combined, which is not assured. Annual arrivals were reported at 1,147,567 in 2024 and 1,158,459 in 2025.
More arrivals do not automatically mean more income. Government statistics for 2024 put tourism receipts at $623.4 million, with an average stay of 13.3 days and daily spending of $40.80.
