Nepal’s tourism sector is feeling the impact of the West Asia crisis, with a significant decline in foreign tourist arrivals from Europe, the Americas, West Asia, and Africa in March, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). The ongoing conflict, triggered by a military attack on Iran by the US and Israel on February 28, has led to global travel restrictions and increased prices affecting the world economy.
Traditionally, Nepal experiences a surge in foreign tourist arrivals during March, April, and May, which are peak months for tourism, especially for Himalayan climbing enthusiasts. While arrivals from South Asia and other Asian regions, as well as Oceania, increased, the numbers from other regions plummeted due to the conflict in West Asia, a common transit route to Nepal.
In March 2026, tourist arrivals from West Asia decreased by 37.1% to 1,718, arrivals from the Americas dropped by 25.4% to 10,374, African arrivals fell by 22.2% to 5,958, and European arrivals declined by 18.9% to 20,876 year-on-year. Overall, foreign tourist arrivals in March saw a 1% decrease to 120,516.
Chief Executive Officer of NTB, Deepak Raj Joshi, acknowledged the challenges posed by global conflicts and disruptions to flights but remains optimistic about the increase in tourists from neighboring countries like India. He emphasized the importance of promotional efforts targeting neighboring markets and the strengthening of ties with high-spending markets such as Europe and the US.
