Tourist arrivals on the up in April, growth losing steam

Tuesday, 28 May 2013 02:16 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka remain on the up though losing much of the rapid pace enjoyed early last year on a cumulative basis.

As per latest data released by Sri Lanka Tourism, arrivals in April grew by 14.7% to 79,829 and cumulative figure in the first four months was 368,627, up by 11.7%.

In comparison to April last year’s growth of 9% over the corresponding period of 2011, the growth in 2013 is higher but the cumulative total’s growth is lower than 2012’s 18.3% improvement. However the 2013 figures are from a higher base relative to 2011.

April 2013 performance is impressive as traditional markets as well as emerging sources of tourists have fared better.

For example tourist arrivals from Western Europe had grown by 10% to 27.531 in April this year as opposed to 7.8% growth achieved in April last year over 2011. Arrivals from Eastern Europe had grown by 34.5% to 4,818 whereas a year earlier the improvement was only 14%. However growth in cumulative arrivals from these two markets is lower at 12.1% and 17.7% in 2013 in comparison to 19.4% and 43% last year.

Tourist arrivals from East Asia in April grew by 34.2% higher than 33.5% a year earlier whilst cumulative figure was up 19.4% to 45,648, as opposed to 37% growth enjoyed end April last year.

China is now by far the leading source market with arrivals up 66% to 11,324 and Japan trailing with 9,635 tourists up by 26% by end April 2013.

Arrivals from India in April was down by 7% to 14,333 and by 5% to 52,892 by end April this year. Last year Indian arrivals were up 5% in April and 7% between January and April.

Emerging market Middle East suffered a 14% dip in April to 3,263 arrivals thereby denting the growth in the four months to 0.7% to 15,022. Last year arrivals from the Middle East were up 12.5% by end April though in the month of April there was a 7.7% contraction.