Nepal Ranks Among 10 Fastest-Improving Tourism Economies Globally

KATHMANDU — Nepal has emerged as one of the world's fastest-improving economies in the tourism sector, according to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI).

Nepal's tourism score improved by 5.1 percent between 2024 and 2026, ranking it ninth among the 10 economies recording the fastest progress. Albania topped the list with a 7 percent improvement, followed by Vietnam at 6.3 percent, Laos at 6.1 percent, and Qatar at 6 percent.

Malaysia ranked fifth with an improvement of 5.8 percent, followed by Thailand at 5.6 percent. The Philippines and Morocco, both with 5.5 percent improvements, ranked seventh and eighth respectively. Sri Lanka stood 10th with a 4.3 percent improvement.

Meanwhile, Japan ranked first globally in overall travel and tourism competitiveness. The United States came second, followed by Spain, Australia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Switzerland, and Italy.

Japan received 42.7 million international visitors in 2025. The report said its strategy of promoting destinations beyond major cities and established tourist areas helped boost arrivals. International visitor spending in Japan reached $59.7 billion in 2025.

The WEF said improvements in cultural resources, tourism infrastructure, and air connectivity played an important role in the broader recovery of the global tourism sector. Fourteen of the index's 17 pillars improved between 2024 and 2026, with cultural resources recording a 9.6 percent increase.

According to the WEF, tourism-related scores improved in 92 percent of the 110 economies covered by the TTDI between 2024 and 2026. The average score rose by 2 percent, marking the fastest improvement since 2019.

Asia Pacific and the Middle East and North Africa recorded the strongest regional improvements. The Asia Pacific region improved by 3.6 percent, while the Middle East and North Africa recorded a 2.5 percent increase. Seven of the 10 fastest-improving economies were developing countries in the Asia Pacific region.

Globally, international tourist arrivals reached 1.5 billion in 2025, up 5 percent from 2024 and 4.4 percent above the 2019 level.

Travel and tourism contributed $11.6 trillion to the global economy in 2025 and supported 366 million jobs worldwide.

The report said emerging tourism economies are improving faster than many established destinations. Competitive prices, natural attractions, and growing demand for sustainable tourism are helping these countries strengthen their position in the global tourism market.