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A member of the 35-strong Chinese tour agents and influencers captures a performance at a reception hosted for them following a week-long familiarisation tour organised by Sri Lanka’s Consulate in Shanghai and SriLankan Airlines
- Pic by Shehan Gunasekera
The outlook for travel to Sri Lanka is promising despite global pressures and the strong tourism rebound is expected to continue well into 2023.
Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka have exceeded the 400,000 mark, with 80,350 travellers arriving in the country during the first 23 days of the month.
Sri Lanka will achieve its set monthly target of 86,000 comfortably, as it had already exceeded the arrivals target of 385,582 for the first four months. Against this backdrop, the data suggests that it will likely continue the trend of over 100,000 into the fourth consecutive month.
A total of 416,029 visitors arrived in the country so far, the data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) showed yesterday.
During the first 23 days of April India topped the tourist inflow reflecting 17% or 13,839, followed by Russia with 11,584, the UK with 7,186, Germany with 6,037 and France with 4,764. In addition, travellers from Australia, China, the US, Canada and Switzerland were welcomed in Sri Lanka.
As per the prediction of the SLTDA, Sri Lanka should reach a target of 385,582 by the end of the first four-month, and at present it leads with 30,447 arrivals advantage.
“The industry had made a positive impact during a short timeline. During the first quarter, tourism has picked up in Sri Lanka, where the arrival figures and the foreign exchange earnings reflected the amazing responses,” Tourism Minister Harin Fernando told the Daily FT.
He also said Sri Lanka as a country and tourism as an industry endured multiple challenges since 2019, but prevailed over those resiliently.
“Today, the industry has rebounded strongly and regained global recognition within a short time. The admiration should definitely be extended to all our industry stakeholders,” he added.
Russia remains strong as the top tourist source market for Sri Lanka YTD with 22% or 91,475 visitors followed by India with 14% or 60,271, the UK with 8% or 35,297, Germany with 8% or 31,886 and France with 5% or 21,508.
Despite the slow start due to COVID travel restrictions, China has managed to make it to the top 10 source markets, securing the ninth position, with 8,932 Chinese travellers already.
The Minister said the multi-city roadshow in China last week was a major success, whilst expressing confidence that it will reflect positively in the earnings as well as in volumes.
Sri Lanka Tourism last week conducted a successful and launched another roadshow targeting the South Indian cities of Chennai, Cochin and Bangalore till Friday (28).
