Nepal is a landlocked country between China and India. The natural landscape consists of valleys and plains in the south, and the awe-inspiring Himalayan Mountains in the north.
In 1950, Nepal's first road system was built to connect the city of Kathmandu to the Indian border. As a result, Nepal welcomed international tourists to explore the region's rich culture and picturesque Himalayan landscape.
According to the Encyclopedia of Tourism, in 1983 Nepal's tourism peaked as the country's leading economic sector by marketing the Himalayan landscape and the Hindu/Buddhist cultures.
According to the Nepal Tourism site, Nepal's developed regions for recreational tourism are the most popular. These destinations include Kathmandu, Lumbini, Pokhara, Nepalgunj, Patan, Bhaktapur and Janakpur.
Tourism to the base of Mount Everest is a huge contribution to the development of Nepal's tourism sector. Tourists wishing to climb the world's highest mountain must purchase an additional permit for an additional $25,000 per person, thereby injecting a large amount of tourism dollars into Nepal's economy.
