S
ri Lanka Tourism is on track to reach a significant milestone by the end of this month, with projections indicating over 1 million visitor arrivals if current trends persist. As of the first 19 days of June, the country has welcomed 69,825 tourists, bringing the total for the year to 966,825.
Industry analysts are optimistic that Sri Lanka will surpass the 1 million mark by month’s end, given the daily average of 3,675 arrivals recorded in June so far. If this pace continues, the month could see over 110,000 arrivals, pushing the total past 1 million within the first half of 2024.
Recovering from multiple setbacks, Sri Lanka’s tourism sector aims to capitalize on this momentum, reinforcing its status as a leading tourist destination in the region.
“This achievement would significantly bolster the confidence of industry stakeholders in reaching the ambitious targets of 2.3 million arrivals and generating over $4 billion in revenue by year-end,” analysts highlighted.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) predicts 148,695 tourists for June. However, they noted that the 1 million milestone could have been reached earlier if a visa-free policy for over 60 countries had been implemented. “With regional competitors attracting global travelers with more favorable conditions, we hope the visa-free policy will be implemented before the winter season starts. This would provide a significant boost to the industry and the economy,” they stated.
From June 1 to 19, India was the top source of visitors, contributing 18,794 tourists (27% of total arrivals). The United Kingdom followed with 5,649 visitors (8.1%), and China accounted for 5,097 travelers (7.3%). Other notable sources included the Maldives, Australia, Bangladesh, Germany, the United States, Russia, and Canada.
Based on current trends, India is expected to exceed 200,000 arrivals year-to-date (YTD) by the end of June. As of June 19, a total of 174,631 Indian visitors had arrived in Sri Lanka, making it the largest single source market. Russia follows with 112,850 visitors and the UK with 85,735.
The strong performance in tourism numbers reflects increasing international confidence in Sri Lanka as a travel destination.
Analysts believe this surge in arrivals will further energize the tourism sector, encouraging stakeholders and investors alike.
