Sri Lanka welcomes over 142,000 tourists in first 3 weeks of 2024

Tuesday, 23 January 2024 00:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

January arrivals mark a notable increase compared to past 3 years
India, Russia and the UK emerge as top source markets
Aims to draw 99,800 tourists within next 10 days to achieve the monthly target of 241,962 arrivals

Sri Lanka is off to a promising start in 2024 as it welcomes over 142,000 visitors during the first three weeks.

During the first 21 days of January, a total of 142,162 visitors have chosen Sri Lanka as their destination, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to leapfrog its tourism sector in 2024.

The latest figures reveal a considerable increase compared to the past three years. In January 2021, the country received 1,682 tourists, while the numbers rose to 82,327 in 2022 and 102,545 in the same period last year.

Thus, the current influx of visitors signals a robust recovery for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.

India leads the arrivals during the first three weeks of January, with 22,660 visitors, followed by Russia with 21,603 and the UK contributing 11,403 arrivals. The diverse range of visitors also includes tourists from Germany, China, France, Poland, Australia, the US and the Netherlands.

With 99,800 or 41% more tourists expected within the next 10 days the country aims to achieve this ambitious monthly target, further solidifying its position as an attractive and resilient travel destination in the post-pandemic era.

Industry analysts pointed out that the surge in tourism not only contributes to the economic revival of Sri Lanka but also showcases global confidence in the country’s safety measures and the appeal of its diverse attractions.

“The positive momentum observed in January sets an encouraging tone for the rest of the year,” they said.

For 2024, Sri Lanka Tourism has set an ambitious target to welcome 2.3 million tourists and earn over $ 4.5 billion.