143,587 tourist arrivals in August 2019 narrows shortfall
Following the Year-on-Year tourist arrivals decline since the terrorists’ attack on Easter Sunday in April’ this year, August’s total arrivals of 143,587, in comparision to the 200,359 visitors in August 2018 is a 28.3% drop.
Despite this been the 5th consecutive monthly decline since that horrific day, the deficit in August follows a robust upward recovery trend – from an abysmal 70.8 % down Year-on-Year in May, 57% down in June and 46% down in July this year.
India, United Kingdom, China, Germany and France were Sri Lanka’s top five international tourist generating markets in August.
India was the largest source of tourist traffic to Sri Lanka with 26 percent of the total traffic received in August 2019.UK accounted for 10 percent of the total traffic; while China produced 7 percent, while Germany and France each accounted for 5 percent respectively.
Indian arrivals in August 2019 surpassed that of August 2018 by 17%. In comparision, arrivals from China dipped 64% over August 2018 figures, whilst the 14,132 arrivals from UK during August 2018 is still (40%) less than the 23,643 who visited Sri Lanka in August last year.
As per SLTDA officials, India, Japan, Romania, The US, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Latvia were the top countries that recorded an increase in the number of arrivals from the visa fee exempted scheme that began in August 2019. A total 48 countries will enjoy this free facility until January 2020.
The Asia Pacific region generated 51% of the total traffic received in August 2019, followed by Europe with 38%, America 6%, the Middle East 4% and Africa 1%.
As at 31st August 2019, 1,267,737 of tourists had visited Sri Lanka for this year, a drop of 19.9 percent over last year when 1,582,835 of tourists visited the country during the same period.
Report compiled by in2ition
|
|
|
|
