Tourist arrivals top 1-million mark in July

• China emerges number one market, overtaking India for the first time in monthly arrivals

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka surpassed the one million mark in July, reflecting the country’s continuous momentum.

The milestone was reached thanks to the largest-ever arrival figure of 175,804 in July, up by 31.2% thereby bringing the first seven months’ haul to 1.005 million. In comparison to a year earlier, the 2015 performance reflected a strong 17% growth. 

Arrivals in July, which is the off-season in the context of the traditional Western European markets, surpassed 2015’s best month of February, which recorded 165,541 visitors.

July also recorded the highest year-on-year growth in 2015 so far.

China produced 25,120 tourists in July, up by 65.5%, bringing its total in the first seven months to 119,705, up by 77.6%. India, the biggest source market, saw arrivals of 24,681 in July, up by 28% over a year earlier. Its cumulative figure was 170,134, up by 27.4%.

The UK, which is now third, saw a growth of 24% to 20,642 in July and 93,223 up to July reflecting a 12.6% growth.

Western Europe remains the biggest source region with 321,472 arrivals by end July, up by 15%. All markets out of Western Europe have reported growth in the first seven months of this year. South Asia is second with 245,587 arrivals, up by 21%. Thanks to the boom from China, East Asia is trailing closely with 205,274 arrivals, up by 31%.