The Missing Value in Nepal’s Tourism Boom

Nepal’s tourism recovery looks impressive on paper. Hotels are busier, trekking routes are active again, restaurants are serving foreign guests, and tourism entrepreneurs are finally seeing movement after the shock of COVID-19. The headline numbers also support the recovery narrative. International tourist arrivals rose from 614,869 in 2022 to 1,147,548 in 2024, nearly reaching the pre-pandemic level of 1,197,191 visitors recorded in 2019. Foreign exchange earnings from tourism reached USD 623.4 million in 2024, while the average length of stay stood at 13.3 days and average daily tourist spending was reported at USD 40.8.