Among the 5.01 lakh tourists who reached Nepal between January and May this year, Indians took the largest share with 1.15 lakh tourists, which translates to about 23 percent. While India dominates the tourist market, a new trend is emerging among Indian tourists, which is especially with a huge demand for holiday journey and ‘soft adventure’ among tourists from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, the boom has been inspired by the rise of high-end, luxury properties developed in the Himalayan nation.
The data purchased from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of the Government of Nepal has revealed that tourism is looking at the north-political after a stable increase with 11.47 lakh tourists coming to Nepal in 2024, leaping 13.07 percent from the previous year. Among the total tourists, Indians created the largest number of tourists in the Himalayan country for 3.17 lakh tourists in 2024, followed by 1.11 lakh tourists from the United States, 1.01 lakhs of China and 57,554 tourists from the United Kingdom.
In 2025, India continued to maintain its position as the largest source for the tourism market in Nepal. Between January and May, this year, 5.01 lakh tourists visited Nepal, with about 23 percent of the total stock with 1.15 million tourists with Indians. According to experts, Nepal makes an attractive option for Indians, a lack of visa application, open boundaries and closeness.
While holidays, trekking and pilgrimage tourism dominate the purpose of traveling in Nepal, tour operators have seen changes in preferences among Indian tourists, now demanding ‘soft adventure’ and luxury experiences.
Talk to The Indian Express,
Sharma said, “Especially in places like Kathmandu and Pokhara, a large number of high -end properties are developing in Nepal, the demand of Indian tourists has increased for holiday travel and soft adventure. This means that Indian tourists live fast with climbers, who live in two nights. Maharashtra and Gujarat.”
The records equipped with the Nepal Tourism Department showed that between 2023 and October 2024, Star Hotel Properties saw an increase of about 17.6 percent across the country, while the non-star hotel increased by 10.5 percent.
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“Unlike the hard adventure in trekking, where trekkers climb up to 5,000 meters, ‘soft adventure’, where visitors have a trek for two -three hours, adventure without punishing the body. More Indians are now liking such soft adventures, where they are doing trek for a few hours, then take rest in their resorts,” The royal scene of presents. ,
In addition, cities in Indian borders such as Birjung, Simra, Nepalganj, Bhairava, Jhapa district are also emerging as a favorite center for destination weddings between Indians as well as non-resident Indians as well as non-resident Indians (NRIs). “The increase in the appeal of these destinations is powered by excellent connectivity to India, which combines with the increasing presence of high-end hotels and resorts in the border cities of Nepal. This combination of accessibility and luxury infrastructure has made Naple a rapidly attractive option to host memorable weddings.”
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), for Nepal, tourism is the second largest foreign exchange earner, contributing to about seven percent of the country’s GDP.
(Correspondent was in Nepal at Nepal’s embassy, New Delhi)
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