Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka up 6.2% in May 2018 with 1,017, 819 tourists in first 5 months
Despite the wet weather, 129,466 tourists visited the country in May 2018, which is a 6.2% rise over the 121,891 arrivals in May 2017. However, when compared to the 125,044 in May 2016, it is a case of two steps forward, one step back.
Of the total number of arrivals received in May 2018, Asia & Pacific was the largest source of tourist traffic to Sri Lanka with 65%. Europe accounted for 27%, Americas 6%, Middle East 2% and Africa 0.5%.
As in the previous month, India (33%), China (13%), United Kingdom (7%), Germany (5%) and Australia (4%), remain Sri Lanka’s top five International tourist generating markets in May this year. Visitors from these five countries accounted for 62% of May 2018’s total arrivals as against the 55% collective contribution In April 2018.
India led with 42,073 visitors during the month, reflecting a significant 23.1% increase over May 2017 figures. Arrivals from India during the months of May, has steadily improved over the past two years (34,259 in May 2016 – up 7.9% over May 2015).
Chinese arrivals which represented the 2nd largest generating market in May this year performed relatively poorly with only 17,103 travellers - down 7.52% over May 2017.
The slowdown in visitor arrival numbers (down 50,960 from April 2018 arrivals) signals the beginning of the ‘low season’ and demand levels will soften for now.
Between 1st January and 31st May 2018, 1,017,819 tourists had visited the country – up 14.7% over the same period in 2017.
The much awaited multi-platform CNN global promotion campaign for Sri Lanka tourism went live from the beginning of June. The three-month long campaign will revolve around 3- three minute videos depicting the ‘Great Big Story’ portraying Sri Lanka as Asia’s diverse, authentic and compact destination and will be exclusively promoted through social media on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Additionally, two 60-seconds videos which are on vacations will be aired on CNN TV International. The target is to reach a total 311 million TV Households and hotel rooms in Europe, the Middle East, South Asia and Asia Pacific region plus 2,100 gates and 250 million annual passengers in 48 airports in the USA.
HSL |
|
|
|
