Marvellous March for tourism

• Records highest post-COVID arrivals figure of 106,500 and surpassed 100,000 tourists in a month after 2 years
• Arrivals up 14% from February, cumulative figure of Q1 at 285,334 
• India dominates tourist traffic followed by Russia, UK, Germany and France by end of Q1
• Traveller confidence, aggressive tourism promotions, French adventure trail ‘Raid Amazones’, continued service from more international airlines were key reasons for surge in March arrivals 
• Industry experts wary about achieving 150,000 monthly target given multiple crises and violent protests

Tourist arrivals have hit a post-COVID all-time high of 106,500 in March despite many crises in the country, propelling the cumulative figure of first quarter to 285,334 continuing the growth momentum of the year.

As per provisional data released by the Tourism Ministry yesterday, it reflects a sharp growth of 14% from February, largely influenced by the growing traveller confidence, aggressive tourism promotions, French adventure trail ‘Raid Amazones’, continued service from more international airlines, eased travel restrictions and successful vaccination program. 

Despite the challenges emanating from external and internal challenges, India continues to dominate as the top tourist source market for Sri Lanka with 47,711 tourists so far, followed by Russia with 37,717, UK 30,992, Germany 22,680, France 15,056, Ukraine 13,463, Poland 10,815, Kazakhstan 7,460, Australia 6,861 and US 6,798 by the end of first quarter 2022.

Sri Lanka’s monthly tourist arrivals crossed the 100,000 mark for the first time in two years, whilst surpassing 194,500 tourists recorded for the entirety of 2021, despite multiple challenges. 

In March, the top five tourist source markets were; India 23,216, UK 12,908, Germany 9,516, Russia 8,889 and France 5,741.

Sri Lanka revised upwards the tourist arrivals forecast for 2022 to 1.3 million from an earlier ambitious goal of 1.1 million in early February from the original target of luring 2.3 million, a move influenced by the surge in ‘Omicron’ variant in major source markets.

However, late last month Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga renewed his hopes of attracting 150,000 visitors monthly in the next six months.

Industry experts were wary about achieving the 150,000 monthly target given the multiple crises and violent protests that are taking place in the country at present.

“We got many inquiries asking if the situation on ground is as bad as the reports portray. Some have postponed their plans,” they pointed out.