Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha and a global symbol of peace, welcomed international tourists and pilgrims from as many as 106 countries in 2025, marking one of the broadest geographic representations of foreign visitors.

Besides Indian visitors, the sacred site drew people from more than half the world’s countries, underlining its rising profile as an international spiritual destination.

From China, the world’s second most populous nation, to Liechtenstein, a small European nation of just over 40,000 people, visitors made their way to Lumbini. Tourists also arrived from distant Chile in South America.

According to the data available at the Lumbini Development Trust, a total of 10,789 tourists came from China, while 32 visitors travelled from Chile. Even citizens from conflict-affected countries such as Israel and Ukraine visited Lumbini, with 177 Israelis and 95 Ukrainians recorded last year.

Tourist arrivals to Lumbini have shown a steady upward trend in recent years. In 2025, a total of 140,969 foreign tourists visited the area, up by 26 percent compared to 2024, when visitors from 110 countries numbered 111,403. In 2023, Lumbini hosted 76,210 tourists from 85 countries, while in 2022 the figure stood at 23,992 from 96 countries. The sharp decline in 2021, when only 1,197 tourists from 68 countries visited, reflected the impact of the Covid pandemic. Since then, foreign arrivals have increased consistently.

Despite the encouraging numbers, tourism entrepreneurs say Lumbini has failed to translate growing footfall into tangible economic benefits. “Foreign tourist numbers have been rising for four years, but the gains remain limited,” said Lilamani Sharma, chairman of the Lumbini Hotel Association.

Sharma argued that the inability to create a spiritual and cultural environment has kept the length of stay extremely short. “Lumbini has immense potential, but we are merely watching it like an ornament locked in a cupboard,” he said, adding that many visitors stay only a few hours, leave waste behind and depart without contributing much to the local economy.

Local tourism entrepreneur Bishnu Basnet lambasted the local, provincial and federal governments for their failure to lengthen tourists' stay.

Visitors also came from Islamic countries such as Iran, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Last year, 27 tourists arrived from Iran, 12 from Pakistan and 292 from Bangladesh. Tourists were also recorded from conflict-affected or less-visited nations, including Sudan, Syria, Somalia and Turkey. Single visitors arrived from countries such as Ghana, Benin, Croatia, Kenya, Malawi, Panama, Cyprus, Qatar, the Dominican Republic and Switzerland, highlighting Lumbini’s truly global reach.

Sri Lanka topped the list of foreign arrivals with 32,287 visitors, followed by Thailand with 19,891 and Myanmar with 18,528. China ranked fourth, slipping from third place the previous year, while Vietnam came fifth with 8,615 tourists. Tourism officials note that the strong presence of Buddhist-majority countries reflects Lumbini’s importance as a pilgrimage centre.

Indian and Nepali tourist numbers, however, declined in 2025. Compared to 2024, Nepali arrivals fell by seven percent and Indian arrivals by 10 percent. A total of 270,387 Indian tourists visited Lumbini in 2025, down from a record 300,889 in 2024. Nepali visitors decreased to 702,910 from 759,990 the previous year.

Tourism entrepreneurs attribute the drop in Nepali and Indian visitors largely to poor road conditions, particularly along the Butwal-Narayanghat section, and frequent strikes and protests within the Lumbini area.

“The irony is that people come here seeking peace but encounter disruption,” said Rajan Basnet, information officer at the Lumbini Development Trust, referring to periodic shutdowns by employees, contractors and traders. The high-profile visits by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and spiritual leader Murari Bapu previously boosted Indian arrivals but the lack of new programmes to extend visitors’ stay has become a major weakness.

Experts believe Lumbini’s future lies in diversifying beyond day trips. Linking nearby Buddhist sites in Kapilvastu and Nawalparasi West, promoting birdwatching, village tours and eco-tourism could significantly increase the length of stay. “Tourist numbers are encouraging, but without a strategy to retain them, counting figures alone is meaningless,” said tourism entrepreneur Tika Kattel.

Officials at the Lumbini Development Trust stress that responsibility does not rest with the government alone. “The private sector and local governments must work together,” said senior director Gyanin Rai. “If we create a secure and vibrant environment, the benefits will reach everyone, from local communities to the national economy.”