Tourism earnings top $ 1.5 b in 1H 2024

• June earnings at $ 151.1 m reflect 23% YoY growth
• Month-on-month basis, June earnings down 1.8% in tandem with lower arrivals during off-season

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has demonstrated remarkable performance, generating over $ 1.55 billion in revenue during the first half of 2024, registering a substantial 78% increase compared to the same period last year. 

The impressive revenue surge within the first six months is significant, given that it took almost 10 months to achieve a similar milestone in 2023.

The strong performance underscores not only a robust recovery but also the industry’s potential for continued growth and resilience amid challenges. 

June alone saw tourism earnings of $ 151.1 million, reflecting a 23% year-on-year (YoY) increase, though a slight 1.8% decline from the previous month. 

In June, a total of 113,470 tourist arrivals were registered, marking a 67% YoY increase.

February 2024 stands out with earnings of $ 345.7 million, the highest recorded in a month post-COVID-19. 

Since the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has faced significant hurdles but has shown strong resilience, boosting confidence in its recovery and future prospects.

Ongoing promotional efforts and a renewed focus on safety and visitor satisfaction are crucial to reclaiming Sri Lanka’s status as a top global tourist destination. 

The country’s achievement of crossing the 1 million arrivals mark by the end of June 2024 further highlights the positive outlook, representing a significant increase from the previous year.

During the first four days of July, Sri Lanka Tourism has welcomed a total of 21,298 tourist arrivals, pushing the YTD total to 1.03 million visitors. 

Sri Lanka Tourism has set an ambitious goal for 2024, aiming to attract 2.3 million tourists and generate over $ 4 billion in revenue.