The biggest sector in Nepal is tourism. Mountaineers, rock climbers, and adventure seekers go to Nepal in droves. Tourists are drawn to Nepal by its stunning and historically significant heritages as well as its favorable climate. The birthplace of Gautam Buddha, Lumbini, which is a world heritage site and is situated in Southern Nepal, as well as other historical and religious landmarks, are popular tourist destinations.
Mountain’s tallest peak Another tourist draw is Mount Everest. Mountaineering, ecotourism, and other forms of adventure tourism draw visitors. The number of tourists increased by 21.4% during the 2011 Nepal Tourism Year (NTY). 2011 was designated as Nepal Tourism Year by the Nepali government, which aimed to draw one million foreign visitors.
According to statistics provided by the Ministry of Tourism, the main tourist activities are trekking, bird watching, flights, paragliding, and hot air ballooning over the Himalayan mountains, exploring the waterways by raft, kayak, or canoe, and jungle safaris, particularly in the Terai region. Other popular tourist activities are wilderness and adventure activities like mountain biking, bungy jumping, ziplining, rock climbing, and mountain climbing.
Due to its unrivaled blend of natural beauty and cultural diversity, Nepal is a special place to go hiking or trekking. Nepal’s culture is well-known throughout the world. The diversity and hospitality of the region are a great benefit to the growth of the tourism industry. Nepal also has significant religious significance. Many tourists go there because of the region’s significant religious heritage.
Nepal’s Principal Tourism Activities
1. Alpine/ Mountain Climbing
With eight peaks rising above 8,000 meters, including the highest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest, the 800 km section of the Nepal Himalaya is the largest in the world. The Nepal Himalaya has developed into a major center for mountaineering activity since the nation opened its peaks to climbers in 1994, and the drama of success and failure has inspired thousands of men and women to take on the hardest challenges.
Many people have been drawn to the Nepal Himalayan, including saints, philosophers, researchers, and adventurers.
2. Rafting/Kayaking/Canyoning
Rafting is one of the greatest methods to discover the usual mix of the nation’s natural and cultural heritage. In Nepal, there are many rivers that provide fantastic rafting and canoeing opportunities. With magnificent scenery all around, you may either float along still jade waterways or plunge headfirst into raging white rapids while being watched over by skilled rivermen employed by government-approved organizations.
One can choose to run the river for one day or longer. The government has thus far permitted commercial rafting on 10 different rivers. One of the most well-liked raftable rivers in Nepal is the Trisuli River. For five days of severe rapids, the Kali Gandaki runs through lonely canyons and vast gorges. 26 kilometers of nonstop white water make up the Bhote Koshi.
3. Trekking
Walking through them is the greatest way to experience Nepal’s unrivaled combination of natural beauty and cultural heritage. One can stroll along well-traveled paths or unexplored ones. In either case, you’re in for a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
Along with rhododendron forests, remote villages, small mountain towns, birds, animals, temples, monasteries, and spectacular vistas, you will also come across hospitable people from all cultures who will give you an intriguing look at traditional rural life.
4. Bird Observation
With over 646 bird species (nearly 8% of the world’s total), Nepal is a haven for bird watchers. Nearly 500 of these species may be found in the Kathmandu Valley alone. The best places in Kathmandu to see birds include Phulchoki, Godavari, Nagarjun, Bagmati River, Taudaha, and others. Grab your binoculars and prepare for an enjoyable adventure.
5. Paragliding
Adventure seekers will find paragliding in Nepal to be a very beautiful and rewarding experience. You will go over some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth as you glide above villages, monasteries, temples, lakes, and jungle while sharing the sky with Himalayan griffin vultures, eagles, and kites. The mighty Himalayas will be visible in the distance.
6. Forest Safari
Visitors from all over the world are drawn to Nepal’s Terai region’s national parks. When visiting these parks, visitors must stalk game on foot, by dugout canoe, by car, and even while riding an elephant. At every elephant safari, one is sure to see one or two one-horned rhinos.
Along with rhinos, other common animals include wild boars, samburs, spotted deer, sloth bears, and four-horned antelope. You might be surprised by the regal sight of a Royal Bengal tiger.
7. Alpine Flight
The thrill of taking a mountain flight to see the world’s tallest mountains can only be matched by awe-inspiring quiet. The closest aerial views of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, and the Tibetan Plateau are provided by mountain flights.
Mountain flights are popular among tourists in Nepal and appeal to all visitor types. These flights provide an hour-long panoramic view of the Himalayas for individuals whose time is limited or they have other reasons not to embark on a trek.
8. Climbing rocks
Kathmandu has a variety of stone walls that make for an unforgettable experience for all those cliffhangers out there. Rock climbing has recently gained popularity in Kathmandu, which has some very fantastic rock climbing locations. Try this sport in Nagarjun, Balaju, Shivapuri, and Budhanilkantha, among other locations.
9. Bungy Jumping
One of the top locations in the world for this sport, the ultimate rush of a bungee jump can now be enjoyed in Nepal. The first bungee jumping location in Nepal is 160 meters away. Overlooking the BhoteKoshi River, this spectacular location invites you to experience the ultimate adrenaline sensation. The 160-meter jump is staffed and run by some of the most skilled jumpmasters in the industry.
10. Bird Observation
With over 646 bird species (nearly 8% of the world’s total), Nepal is a haven for bird watchers. Nearly 500 of these species may be found in the Kathmandu Valley alone. The best places in Kathmandu to see birds include Phulchoki, Godavari, Nagarjun, Bagmati River, Taudaha, and others. Grab your binoculars and prepare for an enjoyable adventure.
Benefits of Nepal’s Tourism Industry
The tourism business benefits a number of areas and facets of Nepalese society, both directly and indirectly. It creates various job opportunities at central as well as grass-roots level. The promotion and conservation of art and culture is also assisted by tourism sector.
There will be huge growth in economic activities and helps in expansion of various profitable business. Hence, by creating genuine focus on developing tourism sector our country can achieve highest economic growth.
Nepal’s Tourism Statistics from 2017-2021
- Only 150,962 tourists visited Nepal in 2021, down 34.4 percent from 2020’s 230,085 arrivals, the year before.
- The number of tourists visiting Nepal in 2020 was 238,000,000, a 70.29% decrease from 2019.
- The number of tourists visiting Nepal in 2019 was 801,000,000.00, up 8.24% from 2018.
- The number of tourists visiting Nepal in 2018 was 740,000,000.00, up 3.93% from 2017.
- The number of tourists visiting Nepal in 2017 was 712,000,000.00, up 42.97% from 2016.
Challenges Faced by Nepal’s Tourism Industry
According to the analysis above, Nepal is a special destination for travelers. Similar to that, Nepal places a high value on tourism. There are a lot of opportunities for tourist growth in Nepal as well. However, due to the following difficulties or issues, Nepal is unable to sufficiently grow this industry:
- Pollution
In Nepal, pollution has gotten out of control. Pollution is present everywhere—in the air, the water, the space, the roads, etc. In tourist areas, solid trash is not being properly managed and is spreading everywhere. As a result, travelers are growing less inclined to travel to Nepal.vii Insufficient publicity and advertising
Numerous Nepali tourist destinations are not sufficiently promoted or advertised abroad. If this publicity is expanded, more foreign visitors may travel to Nepal, and the country’s tourism business will grow.
- Poor Transportation
The two main foundational pillars of the modern physical period are communication and transportation. The growth of the tourism industry depends on these facilities. However, Nepal lacks access to modern forms of communication and transportation. As a result, Nepal’s tourism industry has not yet fully evolved.
- Lack of Development of Tourism Sites
Actually, Nepal is full of beautiful and natural areas. Examples include GosainKund, DudhPokhari, Rara, Dhorpatan, Hile, and Shreenagar. But these locations haven’t yet been made into tourist destinations. As a result, visitors to Nepal only stay in Kathmandu and Pokhara before departing for their home country. Therefore, one of the major challenges facing Nepal’s tourist industry is the growth and development of tourism sites.
- Lack of Quality Hotels
The hotels and lodges that international tourists choose are of high quality. However, there aren’t many accommodations of this caliber in Nepal. The majority of these are situated just in the Kathmandu valley, which forbids international visitors only to the valley. Therefore, a significant problem for Nepali tourism is the development of high-quality hotels and lodges in tourist destinations all over the Country.
- Lack of Tourism Centres and Security
Only a few locations in Nepal have tourism hubs been built. These facilities offer a variety of tourist services, such as directions to scenic locations, tourist maps, money exchange, and more. There is a chance that travelers would be taken advantage of because there are few tourist attractions.
In other locations, tourists have even perished. Therefore, inadequate security measures and the absence of tourism hubs significantly hinder Nepal’s ability to grow its tourism industry.
- Lack of Conservation of Cultural and Religious Sites
Nepal is a nation with many cultural and religious sites that draw both domestic and foreign tourists. However, a lack of conservation is causing these places to deteriorate, which is impeding the growth of the tourism industry.
- Lack of Publicity
Nepal is a County that is rich in historical, cultural, and natural attractions. Lack of publicity has made such a beautiful nation unknown to many people worldwide, which has a negative impact on the growth of the tourism industry.
