The first batch of 180 Chinese trekkers arrived at Kathmandu airport on Thursday, bringing hope to Nepal’s tourism industry, which has been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chinese tourists landed on a charter flight from Himalaya Airlines and are the first of four groups of nearly 1,000 Chinese trekkers. The eight-day Poon Hill trekking event is located some 270 km to the west of Nepal’s capital city. Sudan Kirati, Nepal’s minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation, welcomed the tourists and expressed his appreciation for China’s decision to list Nepal as a destination for outbound group tours for Chinese citizens on a pilot basis. China had become the second largest source of tourists for Nepal before the pandemic began. This resumption of cooperation between China and Nepal on tourism will give impetus to the recovery of Nepal’s tourism industry, a key generator of foreign reserves and employment for the country.