Tourism in Sri Lanka experienced a notable decline in April, with international visitor numbers dropping below the 200,000 mark for the first time in 2024. Provisional data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority revealed that tourist arrivals totaled 148,867 during the month. While this marked a 41 percent increase compared to the same period last year, it represented a significant decrease from the 209,181 arrivals recorded in March.
Since December 2023, Sri Lanka had consistently welcomed over 200,000 tourists each month, marking a milestone in post-pandemic recovery efforts. However, this momentum was disrupted in April, which is typically a quieter period for tourism before a resurgence in July. Authorities attributed part of the decline to the implementation of a new visa system, which came into effect on April 17. The system, perceived as more expensive and less convenient than the previous Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), generated considerable debate and may have deterred potential visitors.
Amidst the decline, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority noted that the arrival numbers were “updated” to align with new visa categories introduced by the Department of Immigration and Emigration. This update reportedly resulted in an increase in arrival figures. The top three source markets for Sri Lanka tourism in April remained India, the Russian Federation, and the UK, contributing 18 percent, 10 percent, and 9 percent of total tourist arrivals, respectively. Clarifications regarding the updated arrival data are expected following discussions with immigration authorities.