Despite China’s 2024 commitment to send 500,000 tourists to Nepal in 2025, arrivals from China declined by 6.3 percent to 95,480. Overall tourist arrivals stood at just over one million in 2025, reflecting only a 1 percent increase from the previous year. Tourism momentum was disrupted by Gen Z protests in September 2025, which led to unrest, property damage, and political instability. Additional challenges included flight cancellations, high airfares, and lingering post-pandemic effects. While earlier initiatives such as visa waivers and charter flights boosted arrivals, recent promotional efforts failed to sustain demand, leaving tourism below its pre-pandemic peak.
