- Nepal witnesses an overall growth of 6.21% in tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2023
- India continues to dominate as Nepal’s top tourism source, contributes over 30% of arrivals. Indian tourist numbers fully rebounds, recovering to 100%, outperformed other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
T3 talks to Srijana Nepali, Officer, Tourism Marketing and Promotion Department, Nepal Tourism Board, and gains more insights.
How has been overall growth in tourist arrivals in the first six months of 2024, as compared to 2023? What are the projections for the rest of 2024?
In the first six months of 2024, we observed an overall growth of 6.21% in tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2023. This shows that we have reached to 2.47% of the Tourism Revival compared to 2019 where we recorded the highest number of tourist arrival in Nepal via air. Given this optimistic trend, our expectations for 2024 are promising. Based on current growth patterns, we project an increase of 10-15% in tourist arrivals for the rest of 2024.
How significant is India as a source market for your tourism sector? Which are your top source markets, and where does India rank among them?
India is a major source market for Nepal, consistently ranking as the top destination for travel and tourism. Its accessibility for Indian tourists is enhanced by an open border and the absence of visa requirements, which significantly boosts tourism. India holds the number one position, accounting for over 30% of total tourist arrivals. In 2019, Nepal experienced its highest number of tourist arrivals, and Indian tourist numbers have now fully rebounded, recovering to 100%. India has clearly outperformed other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
During the first 6 months (January to June), total international visitors stands to 5,83,016 and the number of Indian tourist arrivals for the same period is 186,696. Based on arrival trends, the top ten source markets for Nepal are India, followed by China (54,165), USA (53,654), UK (25,250), Bangladesh (21,992), Australia (18,635), Thailand (16,861), Germany (14,239), South Korea (13,280) and Sri Lanka (11,260).
What new strategic initiatives have been implemented to enhance Nepal’s appeal as a tourist destination globally and India in particular?
We have launched the initiatives of Digital Marketing Campaign and Influencer Marketing Campaign. We are also promoting Sustainable tourism practices through community-based tourism and green tourism initiatives. We are trying to promote Nepal as a premier destination globally targeting the international and Indian tourists by diversifying our tourism offerings.
If we talk about India in particular we continue to promote as “All Season Destination”, be it adventure, treks, pilgrimage, nature, MICE, film tourism, clubbing, nightlife, golfing, or wedding. The lifetime experiences offered in Nepal is expected to reap benefits of all the varied experiences. India will remain the largest contributor to Nepal’s tourism in 2024. While it is often perceived primarily as a mountainous country, we are working to highlight its diverse attractions beyond just the paradise for adventure tourism.
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
What emerging trends are you noticing among Indian travelers?
Indian travelers have made a shift towards meaningful and responsible travel experiences at present. They are more into experiential travel seeking authentic local culture and cuisine alongside adventure activities. There is a growing interest in spiritual awakening through yoga, meditation, wellness retreats and so on. Many of them are opting for short trips to nearby destinations making Nepal an ideal choice.
We have also observed their rising inclination towards personalized travel experiences through their favored customized itineraries. Family holidays exploring the varieties of local cuisine are also becoming popular. Additionally, the trend of solo travelers, particularly among women, is emerging lately.
How do you plan to strengthen your relationships with the B2B travel trade sector in India?
We need to apply strategies of in person and online networking where we can organize webinars, workshop and networking events to provide continuous updates and foster communications. Additionally, familiarization trips for travel trade will be instrumental to provide them with firsthand destination’s experience. We can also establish partnership and collaborate on events for destination branding and promotion side by side.
