US overtakes India as Nepal’s largest tourism source market for first time
Summary
US arrivals have overtaken Indian visitors to become Nepal’s largest source of foreign tourists for the first time, driven by a sharp drop in Indian travel after the August floods. Nepal Tourism Board data shows American arrivals surged while Indian pilgrim traffic fell sharply following the disaster.
Key Points
- Nepal received 17,437 American tourists in October, surpassing India for the first time as the country’s top source market.
- Indian arrivals fell to 12,097 after the August floods and landslides disrupted travel plans and triggered cancellations.
- The Nepal Tourism Board said the US lead reflects both strong American demand and a decline in Indian visitors.
- Tour operators say the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage and wider tourism supply chain have been hit by the disruption.
