The number of foreign tourists visiting the Annapurna Conservation Area in the first ten months of 2025 has already exceeded the total arrivals recorded in 2024, signaling a strong rebound in Nepal’s tourism sector despite a slump in September due to the Gen Z protests.
Tourism entrepreneurs say that although International tourists cancelled bookings following the protests on September 8 and 9, those in the Annapurna region were largely unaffected during that time.
According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), a total of 246,575 foreign tourists visited the area from January to October this year, surpassing last year’s total of 244,045.
ACAP chief Dr Rabin Kadariya told the state-run national news agency RSS that the number of visitors increased in all months except May and September compared to the same period last year. April saw the highest inflow with 44,763 tourists, while January recorded the lowest with 9,359.
The Annapurna region, a globally acclaimed trekking destination, attracts adventurers from around the world, particularly from September to November and from March to May when the weather is favourable.
The recent upgrading of the Beni-Jomsom road has contributed to high influx of tourists, mostly Indian pilgrims, to Muktinth, a famed shrine in Mustang district.
In 2023, the Annapurna region had welcomed 191,666 foreign tourists, while only 18,836 visited in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The steady rise in arrivals over the years reflects the region’s growing appeal and tourism revival.
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