Tourism Minister Harin Fernando elated by the achievement emphasised these accomplishments stand as a testament to Sri Lanka’s allure as a top travel destination and underscores the country’s vast potential to further elevate its tourism industry.
“In addition to the surge in arrivals, the earnings from the tourism sector have also surpassed the $ 1 billion mark. This strong revival in tourism revenue comes as a significant relief for the industry that has been adversely affected by multiple challenges after the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019,” he told the Daily FT.
Comparing the daily average of tourist arrivals between June and July, the figures demonstrate a steady increase with July’s daily average surging to 4,574 from 3,346 in June.
In light of these encouraging numbers, Sri Lanka Tourism has set an ambitious target of welcoming 137,594 tourists for the month and the industry is confident of achieving 14,901 tourists in the next four days.
India emerges as the leading source market with 20,779 tourists followed by the United Kingdom with 15,126 tourists, while China, Germany, and Russia complete the list with 8,446, 6,848, and 6,374 tourists, respectively.
Minister Fernando said Japan, Australia and the Republic of Korea are identified as emerging markets and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) is focusing on conducting a marketing blitz soon.
“The swift recovery of the tourism industry is a testament to the collective efforts of the Government and private sector champions. The upward trajectory in tourist arrivals and earnings signifies a promising future for the industry and its integral role in the country’s economic growth,” he added.
