Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe emphasized the importance of building financial resilience within Sri Lanka’s tourism industry to better handle future shocks. Speaking as the Chief Guest at The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) Annual General Meeting and its 59th Anniversary celebration, Dr. Weerasinghe urged the industry to reduce reliance on government interventions
Jetstar Asia, a majority Singapore-held and based airline, has officially launched direct flights between Singapore and Colombo. The carrier is now the only low-cost airline operating on this route. Jetstar has partnered with Hayleys Advantis in Sri Lanka as its General Sales Agent to streamline operations. Shano Sabar, Deputy Managing Director of Hayleys Advantis, emphasized
Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has reached a significant milestone, surpassing 1.7 million arrivals so far in 2024. Over 100,000 visitors were welcomed during the first 17 days of November, showing strong momentum as the year-end holiday season approaches. From November 1-17, Sri Lanka saw 103,315 tourist arrivals, pushing the year-to-date (YTD) total to over 1.72
The US Embassy in Colombo has lifted travel restrictions for the popular tourist destination, Arugam Bay, which were initially set on 23 October due to security concerns. Although the advisory has been eased, the Embassy continues to urge American citizens in Sri Lanka to exercise vigilance. The Embassy’s updated guidance advises US nationals to remain
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
Sri Lanka is poised for a potential tourism boom, and industry leaders are advocating for a singular, unified approach to attract more visitors while preserving the country’s unique cultural offerings. Speaking at the inaugural South Asian Tourism Leadership Forum, held as part of the Colombo Design Festival at Cinnamon Life, leaders from across the tourism
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
Sri Lanka has achieved a major tourism milestone, reaching over 1.6 million tourist arrivals by the end of October. With more than 117,000 visitors recorded in the first 27 days of the month, the tourism sector continues to rebound. However, industry experts note that the figure could have been higher if not for certain challenges,
The newly appointed leadership of Sri Lanka Tourism has set ambitious goals to attract 4 million visitors and generate $8.5 billion in revenue by 2030. These targets were revealed at the World Tourism Day 2024 event held at Cinnamon Grand, where Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau
Sri Lanka Tourism is gearing up for a grand showcase at the World Travel Market (WTM) 2024 in London, reflecting the country’s renewed commitment to becoming a top travel destination. The event will see the largest-ever trade delegation from Sri Lanka, with over 100 travel agencies, tour operators, and hoteliers participating, marking a significant moment