Sri Lanka attracts over 200,000 arrivals in January 2024
208,253 arrivals in January 2024 augur well for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. It is 103% more than what January 2023 produced.
But are 208,253 arrivals, the ideal launch pad for attracting 2.3 million visitors this year - as aimed for by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA)?
In 2018, Sri Lanka welcomed 2.3 million visitors - its highest ever in a single year. The impetus to achieve that grand figure was provided by January 2018, attracting nearly 239,000 arrivals. In fact, January 2019 raised the bar, when a total 244,000+ arrivals was recorded. Unfortunately, the Easter Sunday bombings sent that year’s upward trajectory spiraling downward.
India with 34,300 visitors led the ‘Top 10’ source markets listing for January 2024, trailed by the Russians who numbered 31,259. In 3rd spot was the UK providing 16,665 tourists, followed by Germany (13,503), China (11,511), France (9,919), Poland (7,800), Australia 6,645), The US (5,712) and the Dutch (4,531), in that order, respectively.
The above top ten countries produced 68% of January’s total number of arrivals with International travelers classified as from ‘Other’ countries, accounting for 32%.
Whilst India continued to retain the top spot, last month’s arrivals from the neighbouring sub-continent was nearly 10% less than the number of Indians who came in January 2018, and over 14% less than the 40,049 Indians who came in 2019.
Chinese arrivals last month fell back 53% and 56%, when compared with the number of visitors that came from that country, in January 2018 (24,275), and January 2019 (26,414), respectively.
Cathay Pacific resumed flights to Sri Lanka after four years. Hong Kong’s home airline will operate three non-stop flights per week from Colombo to Hong Kong from 2 February 2024.
Meanwhile, Oman Air has suspended operations to Sri Lanka, as part a transformation programme.
Hospitality Sri Lanka
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