NEW YORK: Nepal’s Consul General in New York, Dadhiram Bhandari, has assured U.S. travelers that the country remains a safe destination following recent civil unrest and protests. Speaking at a community event, Mr. Bhandari emphatically stated that “no tourists were harmed” during the demonstrations and urged the Nepali diaspora in the United States to actively promote this positive message to support Nepal’s vital tourism industry.
“Nepal is safe to visit,” Mr. Bhandari said. “I want to be clear to the global community: no tourists were harmed during the recent protests. We urge the Nepali diaspora in the U.S. to stand with us, spread this positive message, and support Nepali tourism.”
The Consul General delivered his message while speaking at a program organized by the Greater New York Nepali Chamber of Commerce. The event celebrated the major Nepali Hindu festivals of Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath. The community gathering, which provided a platform to connect with Nepali businessmen and community leaders in the Tri-State area, took place at Bajeko Sekuwa Restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens.
Despite assurances of tourist safety, the protests and acts of arson inflicted a devastating financial blow on the hotel industry. The Hotel Association of Nepal estimates that the total financial damage nationwide exceeds $187.6 million. Approximately two dozen hotels, including major international brands, suffered severe damage from vandalism, arson, and looting.
The Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu alone is estimated to have incurred over $60 million in losses. This unrest occurred at the beginning of the peak tourist season, creating significant uncertainty and leading to foreign booking cancellations, further shaking a sector that was just recovering from the 2015 earthquake, a border blockade, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the period of unrest, approximately 15,000 foreign tourists were in Nepal. However, following the violence on September 8 and 9, the U.S. Department of State updated its travel advisory from Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) to Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), citing civil unrest and noting the potential for further demonstrations and limited emergency response capacity.
Despite the turmoil and the revised travel advisory, a total of 78,711 foreign tourists entered Nepal in September 2025. Of this total, 9,679 arrived from the United States, an increase of 3,611 from August but fewer than the 10,084 U.S. tourists who visited in September of the previous year (2024).
The high number of U.S. arrivals was attributed to Nepali Americans visiting for the Dashain festival and other travelers who chose not to cancel pre-booked trips. Overall, the total number of worldwide tourists in September was 18.3% lower compared to September 2024. The top contributing nations in September were India (15,556), the United States (9,679), China (5,237), Sri Lanka (3,015), and Bangladesh (2,230).
Beyond tourism, Consul General Bhandari used the New York event to appeal to the expatriate community for support in concluding Nepal’s political transformation and to contribute to the Physical Infrastructure Reconstruction Fund.
(Source: Kishor Panthi / NepYork)
