China to waive visa fees for Nepali nationals

KATHMANDU, APRIL 28

The People’s Republic of China has decided to waive visa fees for Nepali citizens visiting the country.

The Embassy of China in Kathmandu announced that starting May 1, 2024, no visa fees will be applied to Nepali nationals. This decision follows an agreement reached during the visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayankaji Shrestha to China last March.

The embassy clarified that while visa fees will be waived, express charges and other services will remain unchanged. This move aims to promote friendship between the two countries and facilitate mutual visits. The Nepali tourism industry has long advocated for fee-less visas for Nepalis, and this provision is expected to boost tourism between the two nations.

Maniraj Lamichhane, Director of the Nepal Tourism Board, expressed optimism about the impact on tourism, noting that the traffic in both directions will benefit.

Statistics from the NTB show a rising trend in Chinese tourist arrivals in 2024. In March alone, 12,093 Chinese tourists visited Nepal, compared to 9,180 in February and 1,436 in January.

In 2023, a total of 60,878 Chinese tourists visited Nepal. The highest number of Chinese tourists prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was recorded in 2019, with 169,543 arrivals.

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