Sri Lanka anticipates an increase in high-end tourism revenue with a surge in charter flights and cruise ship arrivals, The Daily Morning Business learnt.
Speaking to The Daily Morning Business, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Priantha Fernando said: “According to immigration-related statistical data, we should hopefully see around 75 cruises touching different points in Sri Lanka in the coming year.”
He also stated that charter operations this year in Sri Lanka expect an increase in registration by about 25-30% among arrivals. This number is expected to increase considerably in 2024 and would ideally be at about 600,000 arrivals on charters.
Moreover, he explained that on cruise operations, the duration of tourists’ stay is short, with a maximum average of two nights with a high daily spend above average. On charters, the average duration is about eight days with an average daily spend of around $ 175.
According to the SLTDA, tourists on cruises are usually from Europe, the USA, and Canada.
Moreover, Fernando explained that there are many initiatives carried out by stakeholders as well as the authorities to maximise earnings from these tourism segments which specifically fall under high-end tourism.
High-end tourism is one of the major goals for the next five years as President Ranil Wickremesinghe targets high-end tourists to achieve over $ 15 billion in tourist earnings.
“We will have to improve the facilities and services in hotels to cater to that demand and we are expecting to welcome about 2.5 million high-end tourists by 2029 and the other 2.5 million will be a mix of budget tourists and other categories,” Fernando said.
