KATHMANDU: Nepal recorded a strong start to the year in international tourism, welcoming 92,573 international visitor arrivals in January 2026, indicating a continued recovery and renewed confidence in the country as a major travel destination.

Official figures show that visitor arrivals in January increased by 15 percent compared to the same month in 2025 and stood 14 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels recorded in January 2019. The growth highlights sustained momentum in Nepal’s tourism sector following the pandemic-induced downturn.

India remained Nepal’s largest source market during the month, contributing 26,624 visitors, accounting for nearly 29 percent of total arrivals. China followed as the second-largest market with 9,101 visitors, while the United States ranked third with 8,406 arrivals. Bangladesh and Australia also featured prominently among the top source countries, sending 5,814 and 4,957 visitors respectively.

In terms of regional distribution, South Asia accounted for the largest share of arrivals, making up just over 39 percent of total visitors. Other Asian countries contributed 26.1 percent, while Europe represented 12.3 percent of arrivals. Visitors from the Americas accounted for 10.8 percent, followed by Oceania at 5.7 percent. Arrivals from the Middle East and Africa remained modest at 1 percent and 0.4 percent respectively, with other regions accounting for the remaining share.

Tourism authorities say the encouraging figures reflect growing global confidence in Nepal’s tourism offerings, supported by improving air connectivity, destination marketing efforts, and the normalization of international travel. The upward trend reinforces Nepal’s long-term ambition to establish itself as a lifetime experience destination for international travelers.