Tourist arrivals play a vital role in the broader tourism ecosystem, substantially contributing to the economy. The global landscape has witnessed significant growth in international arrivals over the years, and Nepal has not been an exception to this trend, experiencing a steady influx of inbound tourists. Although tourist numbers are increasing, the lack of research in forecasting future arrivals is evident, highlighting the pressing need for comprehensive forecasting mechanisms to efficiently manage tourism resources and sustainably accommodate the growing influx of visitors. In order to gain insights into the dynamics of international tourist arrivals in Nepal, we conducted a comparative analysis using two distinct forecasting techniques: Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) and the Exponential Smoothing technique. Our analysis spanned from January 1992 to December 2023, enabling us to formulate forecasts for the upcoming months up to December 2030. The findings of our study underscore the suitability of all three models—namely, SARIMA, Winter Additive, and Winter Multiplicative—as effective tools for projecting international arrivals in Nepal. However, upon careful examination, the Winter Multiplicative model emerged as the most appropriate model for forecasting Nepal's international arrivals. This model aligned strongly with the observed data, enhancing its predictive accuracy. The implications of our research are far-reaching, offering valuable insights for various stakeholders within Nepal's tourism industry. These insights can guide tourism planners, policymakers, and other relevant entities in formulating well-informed strategies to strengthen and sustain the growth of the tourism sector in Nepal. As the nation continues to position itself on the global tourism map, equipped with data-driven forecasts, we believe that our study provides an essential resource for shaping the trajectory of Nepal's tourism industry in a positive direction.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) offer a low-cost approach for harvesting ambient mechanical energy; however, most devices rely on synthetic, nonbiodegradable polymers. This study presents an eco-friendly biodegradable TENG constructed using a ternary composite of poly­(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), chitosan (CS), and glycine (GL). Moderately transparent PVA/CS/GL composite films were fabricated via a simple in situ solvent-casting process using physical mixing and ambient drying, avoiding toxic solvents and complex thermal processing. The composite film served as the tribo-positive layer, while a polydimethylsiloxane film served as the tribo-negative layer in a vertical contact–separation configuration. The GL content (0–25 wt %) was varied to evaluate its effect on the film structure, mechanical properties, and triboelectric performance. SEM showed GL-dependent surface texturing, and FTIR confirmed the presence of polar functional groups (−OH, −NH₂/–NH₃ ⁺, and −COO^–) and interaction changes consistent with hydrogen bonding within the composite network. GL incorporation also improved flexibility and mechanical stability compared with the pristine PVA/CS film. The GL20 film exhibited the best electrical performance, delivering an open-circuit voltage of ∼70 V at 10 Hz and a short-circuit current of ∼9–10 μA at a low external resistance, with a peak current of ∼4 μA near the matched load. A maximum power density of 12–13 μW cm^–2 was achieved at an external load resistance of 5.1 MΩ. The rectified output powered LEDs and charged capacitors (0.22–10 μF), with a 0.22 μF capacitor reaching ∼2.3 V within 40 s. The EB-TENG maintained a stable output over 7500 operating cycles and showed rapid hydrolytic mass loss in phosphate-buffered saline within 1 week. Overall, these results demonstrate the potential of PVA/CS/GL-based EB-TENGs as sustainable and biodegradable power sources for eco-friendly self-powered electronics.