Tourism surges with over 100,000 arrivals in first 20 days of April

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is witnessing a remarkable surge, with the country welcoming over 100,000 tourists in the initial 20 days of April, setting an optimistic tone for the sector’s trajectory in 2024.

“The provisional figures reveal that over 100,000 tourists were welcomed in the first 20 days of the month, contributing to a year-to-date (YTD) figure of 740,000,” Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said. 

He said the surge in arrivals signals a promising year for the tourism sector, which has gradually recovered from multiple setbacks in the past few years. 

“The surge in tourist arrivals not only boosts our economy but also provides a much-needed lifeline to businesses and individuals reliant on the tourism sector for their livelihoods. As the country continues to prioritise the safety and well-being of visitors through stringent measures, the positive trend in tourist arrivals is expected to fuel further optimism among stakeholders in the tourism industry,” Fernando added.

The industry analysts acknowledge the significant strides made towards achieving the ambitious target of 182,724 monthly arrivals for April, but they cautioned that the sector may fall short of reaching its monthly goal. 

Despite this potential shortfall, the continued momentum in tourist arrivals augurs well for the industry’s resilience and potential for sustained growth in the coming months.

With the Government’s ongoing efforts to promote Sri Lanka as a premier travel destination and the industry’s proactive initiatives to enhance visitor experiences, the country remains poised to capitalise on its natural beauty, cultural allure and food gastronomy to attract tourists from around the globe.

India leads the arrivals during the first 18 days of the month with 16,222 visitors, followed by the UK and Russia during the first 20 days. In addition, visitors from Germany, France, Australia, China, US and the Israel were welcomed.

India also maintains its position as the top tourist source market for Sri Lanka year-to-date (YTD), followed by Russia, UK, Germany and China.

For 2024, Sri Lanka Tourism has set an ambitious target to welcome 2.3 million tourists and earn over $ 4 billion.