Kathmandu, October 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Foreign tourist arrivals in Nepal increased by 12.1 per cent in September despite devastating floods that struck the country on August 26, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
A total of 88,248 foreign tourists visited Nepal in September, compared with 78,711 during the same month last year, NTB data showed.
The floods along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors, triggered by an avalanche near the Nepal-China border, caused widespread destruction. The disaster killed at least 1,453 people, while 5,285 people, including 636 foreigners, remain missing, according to the figures cited in the report.
Images of washed-out roads, collapsed bridges, stranded people and bodies recovered from rivers in northern Nepal circulated widely, creating an impression among prospective visitors that the disaster had affected the entire country.
Following the floods, tourists began cancelling hotel bookings in Nepal. In response, government agencies and the private sector launched the #NepalCalling campaign to counter tourism cancellations and highlight that much of the country remained safe, apart from the river corridors devastated by the disaster.
The September-November period is Nepal’s peak tourism season and accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the country’s annual tourist arrivals.
India recorded the highest number of tourist arrivals in September, with 17,425 visitors, marking a 12 per cent increase compared with the same month last year.
China ranked second with 11,212 visitors, registering a significant year-on-year increase of 114.1 per cent. The United States followed with 8,299 arrivals, while Sri Lanka and Australia recorded 7,108 and 4,842 visitors, respectively.
By region, South Asia accounted for the largest share of arrivals, with 30,085 tourists, representing 34.09 per cent of the total. Another 19,888 visitors came from other Asian countries, while 15,148 arrived from Europe.
However, tourist arrivals from Europe declined by 8.7 per cent compared with September last year, according to NTB data.
Arrivals from Oceania also fell by 25.9 per cent, while those from the Americas registered a decline of 12.3 per cent.
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