By: Staff Writer
June 02, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka tourism industry which suffered economic losses due to the Easter Sunday attacks, id now regaining its lost position sooner than expected with the assistance of the Government attracting 100,000 visitors in May
Over 100,000 visitors arrived in May, with year-to-date (YTD) arrivals at the verge of exceeding the 900,000 milestone, tourism ministry data showed. .
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Priantha Fernando on, expressed confidence that the country would exceed the 900,000 arrivals milestone by the end of May.
During the first four months of 2024, we have managed to post 784,651 tourist arrivals. Apart from April 2024 where the arrivals were 148,867, over the first quarter have exceeded 200,000 arrivals each month, he said.
The overall growth during the first four months in comparison to 2023 is over 80%. The target set for tourist arrivals for 2024 is 2.3 million tourists and if ground conditions within Sri Lanka remain unchanged, we are confident of exceeding the set arrival targe he added. .
For 2024, Sri Lanka Tourism aims to draw 2.3 million tourists and generate an income of over $ 4 billion.
During the first four months of 2024, earnings from tourism rose by 92% to over $ 1.25 billion. The strong performance highlights the resilience and appeal of Sri Lanka as a tourist destination.
The government has taken steps to support the industry in the Budget. Considering the impact of the Easter Sunday attacks, the Government will consult industry members to discuss further measures to support tourism during this challenging period.
Sri Lanka’s tourist industry has a track record of resilience, withstanding 30 years of war by deploying measures to protect visitors and ensure a good experience
Although May 2024 saw an increase from 83,309 visitors in May 2023, the numbers still fell short of the monthly target of 131,112 and the 2018 benchmark figure of 129,446.
India emerged as the top tourist source market in May, contributing 29,176 visitors during the first 28 days, while the Maldives and the UK followed with 7,762 and 7,440 travellers, respectively. Additionally, tourists were also welcomed from Germany, China, Australia, Russia, France, the US and Canada.
Year-to-date (YTD), India remains the largest source market with 152,759 tourists, accounting for 17% of total arrivals. Russia with 110,348 and the UK 79,432 visitors follow as significant contributors to Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
