Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has kicked off November with remarkable momentum, welcoming over 30,000 tourists within the first five days. From November 1-5, the country recorded 30,620 arrivals, a 38% increase compared to 22,202 visitors during the same period in 2023.
The year-to-date (YTD) total has now surpassed 1.65 million, bringing Sri Lanka closer to its goal of two million tourists for the year. The daily average arrivals have also surged, reaching 6,124 visitors per day—a 40% rise from October’s daily average of 4,384.
In November, Sri Lanka Tourism aims to attract 198,069 visitors, requiring an average daily arrival of 6,698 to meet the target. India leads the arrivals in the first five days with 7,785 tourists, followed by Russia (4,488), Germany (2,752), the UK (1,821), and Australia (1,227). Notably, despite recent travel advisories from Russia, the UK, and Australia, these countries remain top source markets.
The return of charter flights operated by airlines like Red Wings, Enter Air, Edelweiss, and Air Azur is anticipated to boost tourist traffic, especially from Eastern Europe, as the winter season approaches. This increased connectivity supports a rising demand for direct flights to Sri Lanka, further bolstering tourism.
Sri Lanka’s tourism appeal has been amplified by recent accolades, including being named the world’s “Most Desirable Island” by Wanderlust Magazine, National Geographic’s recognition of the Pekoe Trail, and high rankings from Forbes and CEO World Magazine as one of the top travel destinations for 2024.