KATHMANDU, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal rose significantly in the first month of the year, mainly due to an increase in visitors from India and China, the Nepal Tourism Board said on Sunday.

A total of 92,573 tourists arrived in January, up by 15.7 percent from 79,991 in the same period last year.

"January 2026 marked a hopeful start for international tourism," read a statement by the board.

Tourist arrivals were also higher than those in January 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, when Nepal welcomed 81,273 foreign visitors. India, China and the United States remained the top three source countries for tourists to Nepal. ■