Tourists Visiting Nepal in 2016
2016 became a positive year for the overall tourist arrival in Nepal as the total number of tourists jumped almost 40 % compared to the previous year. Due to the earthquake on 25 April 2015 and the four months-long fuel crisis that resulted in the Indian blockade, the total number of tourists visiting Nepal shattered down to 554 thousand only. The number was boosted to 753 thousand in 2016. Visitors from India, China, the USA, and the UK rapidly grew. However, the total arrival in 2016 is still 5% down compared to 2014.
March, April, and May, just before the monsoon, Oct, November, and December, are the best time for tourism activities in Nepal. In December, we witnessed the number of adventure tourists growing for trekking in the Himalayas. However, it gets cold in December, and the blue sky and isolated topography alluring trekking into the Himalayas to celebrate festivals like Christmas and New Year on the mountain, a different way of celebrating the festival on the backdrop of the high Himalayas.
UK-based Rough Guides has enlisted Nepal as the 2nd Top 10 country to visit in 2017. In addition, the world leading travel guide, Lonely Planet, has recommended Nepal as the world best-value destination for 2017. Similarly, The New York Times has featured the Langtang region in Nepal as one of 52 places to go in 2017. This is the same Langtang valley, severely affected by the 2015 earthquake, which recovered, and all trekking routes are safe now.
With all these recommendations, incomparable vibrant ethnic culture, alluring mountains, and Nepalese people hospitality, Nepal undoubtedly deserves more tourists. Therefore, the double-digit growth of tourist arrivals in Nepal in 2017 is widely expected to meet the short-term target of 1 million tourists visiting Nepal in a year. So be ready to hike to the most famous Everest region, Annapurna region, or the less trodden part of Langtang or Manaslu in the vastness of the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal.
