Sri Lanka attracted nearly 136,000 tourists in October, marking a 25% year-on-year (YoY) growth. It is also the highest October arrivals recorded in six years.
The October arrivals, totalling 135,907, represent an 11% increase over 122,140 arrivals in September, showing signs of improvement post-visa crisis, though still missing the monthly target of 155,070 set by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
October’s shortfall extends a trend seen throughout 2024, where monthly targets have consistently been missed.
Industry stakeholders attributed the increase in arrivals to the Government’s swift response to reinstating the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system.
The ETA was restored on 26 September, boosting daily tourist arrivals from an average of 4,079 in September to 4,384 in October, although not sufficient to reach over 6,000 visitors daily, similar to the level in the first quarter of 2024.
Although the uptick in October arrivals is encouraging, industry stakeholders recognise the importance of overcoming operational challenges to sustain growth momentum.
The sector’s renewed momentum has been indicated to better visa facilitation, but industry leaders caution that external factors, including travel advisories and global economic conditions, remain significant influences on arrival numbers.
As of end October, year-to-date (YTD) arrivals stand at over 1.62 million, inching towards the revised 2024 target of 2 million tourists and over $ 3 billion in revenue. The original target of 2.3 million visitors and $ 4 billion in income was revised downward by the new administration, acknowledging the industry’s current constraints.
India continues to dominate as Sri Lanka’s top source market in October, sending 36,417 visitors, whilst Russia with 10,367 and the UK with 10,206 tourists follow as key contributors. Germany and China round the top five with 9,217 and 8,307 visitors respectively.
India’s cumulative YTD contribution remains unmatched, with 322,973 visitors; the UK follows with 146,670 and Russia ranks third with 137,599 arrivals.
The return of charter flights, including services by Red Wings, Enter Air, and Edelweiss, is expected to support further growth through the winter season, which ends in March 2025. These direct charters provide critical connectivity for travellers, particularly from Eastern Europe.
With only two months left in 2024, achieving the revised target of 2 million or 379,283 more visitors will hinge on the continuation of favourable conditions, especially during the high-demand winter travel season.
