Tourism

Sri Lanka Tourism Soars: Earnings Up 87% in First Half of 2024

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is on a tear! The first five months of 2024 saw a remarkable 87% surge in earnings compared to the same period last year, reaching a staggering $1.4 billion. This is particularly impressive considering it took almost nine months to achieve a similar milestone in 2023. This robust performance highlights not

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Tourism

Sri Lanka Shines at China’s Travel Fair: Recognized for Cultural Tourism

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

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Tourism

Sri Lanka Tourism Sees Steady Growth Despite May Dip

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry reached another milestone in May, surpassing the 100,000 mark in arrivals with a total of 108,665 visitors. However, this figure marks the second consecutive month with arrivals falling below the 200,000 mark previously sustained for half a year. This slight dip is attributed to the end of the European winter season,

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Economics Tourism

Maldives Becomes Second Largest Tourist Source for Sri Lanka Despite Visa Controversy

The Maldives has overtaken the United Kingdom as the second-largest source of tourists for Sri Lanka in May, despite an ongoing controversy surrounding a new visa system implemented by Sri Lanka. This development comes amid concerns that a bilateral visa exemption agreement between the two countries may have been violated. The controversy centers around VFS

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Tourism

Sri Lanka Scores Big! 60-Day Visa-Free Entry to Thailand Announced

Sri Lankan travelers rejoice! Starting June 1st, you’ll be able to enjoy visa-free entry to Thailand for up to 60 days. This exciting news comes as part of a Thai government initiative to boost tourism in the country. Sri Lanka is among 36 new additions to Thailand’s existing list of 57 visa-free countries. This means

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Industry Analysis Tourism

Aitken Spence Soars in Q4, Reports Strong Profits and Increased Tourism

Sri Lankan conglomerate Aitken Spence PLC announced a stellar fourth quarter, significantly boosting their overall financial performance for the 2023/2024 financial year. Key Highlights: Full Year Performance: For the entire financial year ending March 31, 2024, the Group reported a PBT of Rs. 6.7 billion. The key contributors were: Beyond Financials: Aitken Spence achieved several

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Economics Tourism

Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals Surge, Targeting 900,000 by July

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is experiencing a welcome surge, with arrivals reaching the 100,000 mark for May 2024 as of May 28th. The total number is expected to hit 900,000 by early July. As of May 26th, total arrivals reached an impressive 881,541. India continues to be the leading source market with 150,857 visitors, followed

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Travel

Sri Lanka’s Tourism Presence Shines at Arabian Travel Market

Sri Lanka recently participated in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) held in Dubai, UAE, joining a global gathering of industry professionals. The event, which ran for three days and drew over 46,000 attendees from 160 countries, provided a platform for networking and showcasing Sri Lanka’s tourism offerings. Among the notable figures representing Sri Lanka at

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Travel

Exploring Sri Lanka’s Tourism Potential: Addressing Challenges, Seizing Opportunities, and Crafting Strategies

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, once a promising source of foreign exchange earnings, faces significant challenges that hinder its growth and competitiveness in the global market. Despite its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, the country struggles with issues ranging from political instability to regulatory shortcomings and inadequate infrastructure. These obstacles have resulted in a decline

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Travel

Sun Siyam Pasikudah Set to Make Inaugural Appearance at Sancharaka Udawa Trade Exhibition

Sun Siyam Pasikudah, an upscale resort situated on the idyllic beaches of the East and a part of the renowned Sun Siyam Resorts based in the Maldives, is set to make its debut at the prestigious Sancharaka Udawa trade show 2024. This event, scheduled for May 17 and 18 at the BMICH’s Hall B, specifically

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