Tourist arrivals dip in May

Tourist arrivals dipped by 2.5% to 121,891 in May, from an year earlier though cumulative figure for first five months gained.

Data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) yesterday showed that the first five months’ tourist arrivals rose 4.8% to 887,093 compared to the same period last year, continuing the growth momentum established in 2010.

Analysts said the slight decline in May was due to it being a traditional off-peak period and the adverse weather conditions that prevailed during the latter part of the month.

When totalling the arrival figures for the first five months of the year, Sri Lanka’s biggest market was neighbouring India, which recorded 145,058, followed by China (117,539), the UK (85,498), Germany (60,607) and France (47,596).

Tourism accounts for up to 5% of Sri Lanka’s economy. Tourist arrivals and revenue hit record highs in 2016, with annual arrivals jumping 14% to a record 2.05 million.

1Q tourism earnings tops $ 1 b 

Earnings from tourism in March amounted to $ 322.7 million while cumulative earnings for the first quarter recorded an increase to $ 1.037 billion, Central Bank said yesterday.