After a disappointing June, tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka surged in July, with the country welcoming 187,810 foreign visitors. This marks a 31.3 percent increase from a year ago, partly driven by the Dawoodi Bohra International Convention held in Colombo from July 7 to 19, which attracted approximately 15,000 foreign visitors. July’s tourist numbers represent
For the first time, Laos has granted visa-free travel access to Sri Lanka, along with 51 other countries, in an effort to boost the international tourism industry. This visa-free policy will be effective until December 31, 2024. Additionally, the duration of stay for a multiple-entry visa has been extended from 30 to 60 days. Other
Sri Lanka has seen a significant boost in tourist arrivals, welcoming over 85,000 visitors in the first 14 days of July, bringing the total for 2024 close to 1.1 million. This surge is largely due to the Dawoodi Bohra International Convention held in Colombo, which concluded recently. From July 1 to 14, a total of
Sri Lanka is aiming for over 2.5 million tourist arrivals in 2024, marking a significant recovery as it surpassed 1,077,251 arrivals by July 11th. The country welcomed 67,002 tourists in the first 11 days of July alone. From January to June 2024, tourist arrivals surged to 1,010,249, up 61.7% from 624,874 in the same period
Sri Lanka Customs (SLC) aims to surpass last year’s revenue of Rs. 970 billion in 2024, targeting Rs. 1.5 trillion due to increased Value Added Tax (VAT) and lifted import restrictions in October 2023. China has pledged financial support and the adoption of new technology to improve SLC operations. Addressing a gathering at the Sri
Sri Lanka Tourism made a splash at the recent Guangzhou International Travel Fair (GITF 2024) in southern China, a premier event for travel industry professionals. Not only did Sri Lanka showcase its offerings to potential partners, but it also secured the prestigious title of “Most Popular Cultural Tourism Destination.” This recognition highlights Sri Lanka’s successful
Sri Lanka is rolling out the welcome mat for tourists! The Department of Immigration and Emigration has announced that free visa entry for citizens of seven countries has been extended indefinitely. This decision, communicated through a circular issued on May 30th by Immigration Controller General Harsha Ilukpitiya, applies to travelers from India, Indonesia, China, Russia,
Export Development has reported positive growth in several key export markets for Sri Lanka during March 2024 and the cumulative period of January to March 2024, compared to the corresponding periods in 2023. Among the top 10 export destinations for Sri Lanka, countries such as the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Canada, and China have shown significant
China, once boasting an economic juggernaut, finds itself at a crossroads. While setting an ambitious growth target of 5% for 2024, Premier Li Qiang acknowledged the “difficulties” faced by the economy, highlighting ongoing challenges and the need for course correction. The immediate concerns are a struggling property sector, a volatile stock market, high youth unemployment,