May 28, Kathmandu – The average daily expenditure of tourists visiting Nepal has decreased by 19 percent. Despite an increase in tourist arrivals, a recently released economic survey by the government indicates a decline in tourists’ spending. Kumar Mani Thapa, President of the Nepal Tourism Entrepreneurs Association, stated, “If tourists do not spend, it will be difficult for the country to achieve prosperity through tourism.” He explained that although tourists visiting Nepal need to spend significantly during their trip, many are unable to spend freely. Thapa added, “Just the cost of transportation tickets can reach approximately three thousand US dollars. This situation forces tourists to cut back on expenses while in Nepal. We have been unable to create an environment that encourages tourists to spend more.”
President Thapa has called for the implementation of luxurious packages to motivate tourists to increase their spending. He argued that road infrastructure should be strengthened, artistic plans to increase expenditures developed, and travel fees reduced to encourage higher tourist spending. According to the economic survey 2082/83 presented by Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle on Wednesday, the average spending per tourist was 40.84 US dollars in 2024 but declined to 33.08 US dollars in 2025, confirming a 19 percent decrease in daily expenditure.
The survey also notes that from 2025 onwards, the Department of Immigration, using the Central Electronic Tourism Management Information System (CTEMIS), automatically tracks tourists’ arrival and departure dates, resulting in such outcomes in expenditure calculations. It further states that the number of tourists visiting Nepal increased by 1.3 percent to 162,365 in 2025, compared to 114,7548 in 2024. Data reveals that 60.2 percent of tourists come for vacation and entertainment purposes.
According to Thapa, pilgrims constitute the largest group at 14.4 percent. Tourists arriving for trekking and mountaineering account for 14.2 percent, while those visiting for various other reasons, including business, study, and general tours, comprise 11.2 percent. The length of tourists’ stays has also increased; the average duration was 13.30 days in 2024 and rose to 16.34 days in 2025. Among tourists who arrived in 2025, approximately 293,000 came from India. Other countries include the United States with 113,000 tourists, China 96,000, the United Kingdom 59,000, Bangladesh 58,000, Australia 50,000, Sri Lanka 38,000, Thailand 30,000, Germany 30,000, Japan 25,000, and 371,000 tourists from other countries. The survey also signals a 4.8 percent increase in tourism revenue in 2025. The tourism revenue for the fiscal year 2024 was 8.339 billion Nepalese rupees.
Sahadev Dhamala, Vice President of the Thamel Tourism Development Council, indicated that insufficient tourist spending would reduce the contribution to gross domestic product. He mentioned, “There is currently a shortage of quality goods that tourists want to purchase.” Dhamala emphasized, “Service delivery must be organized according to tourist preferences. The state needs to increase investment in services and the production of quality goods.”
