US tourists top Nepal's visitor list in October

In October 2026, American travelers became the largest group of foreign visitors arriving in Nepal by air, overtaking Indian tourists for the first time in recent trends. Data from the Nepal Tourism Board indicates that 132,814 foreign tourists visited the country during the month, representing a 3.4 percent increase over October 2025. Specifically, 17,437 Americans arrived, while Indian arrivals fell to 12,097. Chinese tourists ranked third with 11,695 visitors, followed by travelers from the United Kingdom and Australia.

Despite this growth, industry leaders argue that Nepal’s tourism sector remains significantly underutilized. Binayak Shah, president of the Hotel Association of Nepal, notes that while the country possesses the capacity to host up to 4 million tourists annually, actual arrivals fall far short of this potential. Shah cites structural barriers, including limited air connectivity, the need for full operationalization of international airports in Pokhara and Bhairahawa, and the European Union’s air safety restrictions on Nepali airlines as significant impediments to growth.