August 24, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has recorded 1,468,980 international tourist arrivals so far this year, keeping the country’s tourism sector on a strong growth trajectory as authorities continue efforts to attract visitors from key overseas markets.
India remains the leading source of visitors, with 366,114 Indian tourists travelling to Sri Lanka during the year. The United Kingdom is the second-largest market, contributing 144,381 arrivals, while China has accounted for a further 97,073 visitors.
According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, 125,562 tourists have entered the country so far this month, with India again emerging as the largest contributor.
A total of 27,884 Indian visitors arrived during the month, underlining the importance of the neighbouring country to Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. Strong visitor numbers from India have continued to provide a significant boost to hotels, airlines, tour operators and other businesses dependent on international tourism.
February produced the strongest monthly performance recorded so far this year, when 279,328 tourists arrived in Sri Lanka.
The latest figures indicate continued momentum in the recovery and expansion of the country’s tourism industry, with arrivals from major markets helping to sustain demand across the sector. Sri Lanka is now looking to build on this performance by strengthening connectivity and broadening its appeal to travellers from both established and emerging markets.
