KATHMANDU: Tourism income declined by 2.2 percent in the first 10 months of fiscal year 2025/26 (July 17, 2025, to May 14, 2026), while the country’s net service income remained in deficit at Rs 68.22 billion, according to the latest report of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).

The NRB reported that tourism earnings stood at Rs 74.18 billion during the review period, down from Rs 75.83 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

Travel-related expenditure fell by 3.4 percent to Rs 177.87 billion from Rs 184.22 billion a year earlier. However, spending continued to far exceed tourism income, contributing to the deficit in the service account.

The report also showed that expenditure on overseas education increased to Rs 120.50 billion from Rs 112.39 billion in the same period last year, making it one of the major drivers of the service-sector deficit.