December 26, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has reached a significant milestone in its tourism sector, recording its two millionth tourist arrival today, according to Sri Lanka Tourism.
The landmark achievement was celebrated with the arrival of a couple from Thailand, marking a moment of pride for the island nation as it continues to recover and thrive in the post-pandemic tourism landscape.
Data from Sri Lanka Tourism reveals that by December 22, 2024, the country had already welcomed 1,966,256 international visitors.
The final push to the two millionth arrival came in the latter part of the month, with a notable surge in tourist numbers over the course of December.
A total of 161,383 tourists arrived in Sri Lanka between December 1 and December 22, 2024, reflecting strong demand for the country’s vibrant tourism offerings.
India continues to be the leading source of international visitors, with 35,131 Indian nationals arriving during this period.
Other countries contributing significantly to the surge in arrivals include Russia, with 22,637 visitors, followed by the United Kingdom (12,822), Germany (9,998), and Australia (8,646).
The United States, China, Maldives, France, and Poland also contributed notable numbers of tourists, further diversifying the mix of international travellers flocking to the island.
The steady rise in tourist arrivals signals a strong recovery for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, which had faced challenges in recent years.
Sri Lanka Tourism is optimistic about the continued growth of the sector as it positions itself as a leading destination in the South Asian region.
Read SLTDA Report: https://www.sltda.gov.lk/storage/common_media/WeeklyReportDECEMBER-01-22.pdf