Kathmandu, Feb. 13 -- International passenger traffic at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) has surged nearly fivefold since 2000, when it handled just a million flyers.

In 2024, the airport recorded a historic 4.96 million international travellers, driven by a surge in tourist arrivals, outbound Nepali migrant workers, and students heading abroad.

Passenger traffic has grown significantly post-Covid, largely due to an exodus of migrant workers and students. Analysts also note a sharp rise in family members travelling abroad to visit their loved ones.

Last year, Nepal welcomed over a million foreign tourists, while an equal number of migrant workers and students left.

According to TIA data, international passenger traff...