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
Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath delivered an inspiring message during the live performance of Arrival from Sweden: The Music of ABBA, an internationally acclaimed tribute band, on Saturday. The event, held at a vibrant venue with 2,500 enthusiastic attendees, celebrated music, nostalgia, and hope. The Minister expressed admiration for the legendary band and shared a personal
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
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry faces significant challenges due to a fragmented tour guide sector, threatening the country’s ability to meet its target of attracting five million visitors by 2030. A recent study by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) found that 23% of the country’s 6,347 tour guides are operating without proper licenses, highlighting
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
In response to the suspension of the eVisa platform, Sri Lankan missions abroad will resume issuing tourist and business visas to facilitate international visitors. This measure aims to prevent inconvenience for travelers seeking to enter Sri Lanka while the electronic system is offline. Tourism industry stakeholders have communicated to overseas travel agents and other relevant
Positive News for Tourism The Republic of Korea has relaxed its travel alert for Sri Lanka, a move welcomed by the tourism industry. As of July 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea has adjusted Sri Lanka’s travel alert from level 2 to level 1. “The revised alert, which reflects improved