Nepal's tourism narrative: Long on optimism but short on honesty
Summary
Nepal's tourism sector reports modest growth with 1.15 million foreign arrivals in 2025, but dual pricing and data inflation hinder genuine progress and competitiveness.
Key Points
- Nepal welcomed about 1.15 million foreign tourists in 2025, only a 1% increase from 2024 and below pre-pandemic levels.
- A large portion of arrivals includes repeat visitors and non-resident Nepalis, contributing little to the formal tourism economy.
- Nepal employs a dual pricing system that charges foreign tourists significantly more than locals for services like flights and permits.
- The article calls for reforms in pricing, data transparency, and connectivity to improve tourism competitiveness and credibility.
