Nepal’s tourism, the lifeblood of its economy, is in freefall post-COVID, with visitor numbers languishing far from pre-pandemic glory. The land of Everest and ancient temples now contends with under one million tourists annually for three straight years. In a pre-election surge, major political factions are assuming command, embedding revival strategies in their March 5 poll platforms.
The Kathmandu Post reports pinpoint plane crashes, subpar infrastructure, and promotional shortfalls as key barriers. Major parties unite on aviation safety revolutions, India air route diplomacy, and doubling tourists and spends in five years—plus EU blacklist removal and new airport expansions.
KP Oli’s CPN-UML leads with infrastructure, promotion, air growth, security, and fresh attractions under a ‘safety paramount’ mantra. Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s group targets technical airline upgrades and EU delisting lawsuits; Nepali Congress pushes wellness and spiritual niches. RSP pledges identical doubling via reforms.
Board data logs 1,158,459 flyers in 2025, edging past 2024’s 1,147,548 toward 97% recovery. Indians at 292,438 (down 8%) hold 25-30% sway, with January 2026 up 30%. They topped 2025 at 35.2%, trailed by US (112,316), China, UK, Bangladesh. Despite 2024 unrest killing 77, arrivals grew 1% globally, per CEO Joshi.
With India as the powerhouse market, these cross-party tourism pledges could galvanize action, steering Nepal from crisis to comeback in a high-stakes electoral battle.