Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has attracted US$ 71.53 million in investment proposals up to August 16th this year, according to the latest data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). During this period, 43 investment proposals were submitted, aiming to add 773 rooms to the nation’s hotel stock. As of June 31st, SLTDA had
Sri Lanka has experienced a significant boost in tourist arrivals, with over 91,000 international visitors arriving in the first two weeks of August. This recent influx brings the year-to-date total closer to 1.3 million visitors. According to provisional data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the island welcomed 91,634 tourists from August 1 to
A new luxury ‘Airport Terminal Shuttle Service’ has been launched from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to the Colombo Fort Railway Station and the Multimodal Transport Centre (MMC) in Makumbura. The service was officially inaugurated by Transport and Highways Ministry Secretary Ranjith Rubasinghe, addressing a longstanding issue for travelers at Sri Lanka’s main airport. Previously, foreign
Sri Lanka’s first-ever seven-star hotel project, Aviyana Private Chalets (Aviyana Ceylon), currently under development in the Udispattuwa area of Kandy, is now inviting investors to participate in its groundbreaking venture. With investments starting at Rs. 5 million, the project promises to significantly boost the country’s economy and tourism industry. To raise awareness about the Aviyana
Sri Lanka saw 26,889 tourists arrive in the first four days of August 2024, pushing the total visitor count for the year to 1,224,948. The recent India-Sri Lanka cricket series and the launch of IndiGo Airlines’ daily service from Chennai to Jaffna have contributed to this influx, particularly boosting Indian tourist numbers. India led the
Officials from Sri Lanka’s tourism industry recently confirmed that the sector is on a strong upward trajectory, with more than 1.16 million visitors arriving in the country so far this year. If current trends continue, Sri Lanka could surpass its benchmark year of 2018. Tourism Ministry Secretary Somarathne Vidanapathirana expressed optimism about the sector’s recovery,
Following Laos and Thailand, Algeria has also granted visa-free travel to Sri Lankans, among other countries. This move is part of Algeria’s broader initiative to simplify travel procedures and strengthen international connections. In 2021, Algeria’s tourism sector significantly boosted the economy, contributing approximately USD 7.2 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a 33% increase
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has called on the Government to reassess the new e-Visa issuance process and its associated costs to better support the growth of Sri Lanka’s tourism sector. The Chamber expressed concerns that the current debate over the pricing and procedure of the e-Visa system is detracting from efforts to enhance destination
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