Sri Lanka’s tourism sector continues its strong recovery, recording over 61,000 arrivals in the first 10 days of November and bringing the year-to-date (YTD) figure to over 1.68 million. With the busy winter season ahead, the country is on track to reach 1.7 million arrivals in 2024.
In early November, Sri Lanka saw 42,148 tourists in the first week and an additional 6,021 between November 8-10, reflecting sustained interest in the island as a travel destination. The daily average of tourist arrivals has also increased, rising from 4,384 to 6,021. However, to meet the Sri Lanka Tourism target of 198,069 visitors for November, an average of nearly 6,700 tourists per day will be required.
India led in tourist numbers during this period, contributing 15,197 visitors, followed by Russia with 9,680 arrivals, and Germany with 4,899. Other key source markets included the UK, Australia, China, France, Poland, Maldives, and the Netherlands. For the YTD, India remains the largest source market with 388,170 visitors, followed by the UK with 150,379 and Russia with 147,279.
With Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) expanding its airline roster to accommodate increased demand, a top official told the Daily FT that Sri Lanka is ready for a bustling winter travel season. Currently, 28 airlines operate flights to Colombo from 50 destinations across 26 countries, including major regions in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.
By the end of October, tourism earnings crossed $2.5 billion, marking a 59% year-on-year (YoY) increase, though still 28% lower than the record year of 2018.
The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) have appealed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to prioritize a global promotional campaign to elevate Sri Lanka’s visibility as a top tourist destination. The importance of effective promotion was underscored during the South Asian Tourism Leadership Summit 2024 at the Sri Lanka Design Festival, where the need for heightened awareness initiatives was a central theme.