KATHMANDU, Oct. 3 -- Over 800,000 foreigners have visited Nepal from January to September 2024.

According to data from Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), this marks a six percent increase compared to 2023 and a four percent increase compared to 2019.

NTB Director Mani Raj Lamichhane noted a shift in visitor patterns: while the number of tourists from India dropped in September, arrivals from China increased. In September, 22,984 tourists from India visited Nepal, down from 25,832 in August. Conversely, the number of tourists from China rose from 6,614 in August to 8,042 in September.

The decrease in Indian tourists may be attributed to the monsoon season. Meanwhile, 10,084 Americans and 4,915 Sri Lankans visited in September.

The total number...