Nepal is looking to attract more Chinese tourists after a three-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement from the Nepalese embassy in Beijing. A group of 180 tourists from China arrived in Nepal last Thursday and were welcomed by the Chinese ambassador to Nepal and other officials. China is the second-largest source market for Nepal’s tourism industry, which suffered severely during the pandemic.
The number of Chinese visitors to Nepal reached 169,543 in 2019. The pandemic forced tourists numbers to plummet to less than 4,000 in 2022. Nepal has been enhancing its infrastructure to cater to Chinese tourists and plans to develop a comprehensive tourism program that reflects Nepal’s unique culture and strengthens the relationship between the two countries. Nepal has recently built two international airports to make travel more convenient for travelers from China. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Nepal has cooperated with China on various infrastructure projects, including transportation, to improve conditions to attract more Chinese tourists.