Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ Sri Lanka’s allure as a tourist hotspot continues to gain momentum, which is evident in the island nation’s surpassing of the 200,000 visitor milestone for the third consecutive month in February, indicating its resurgence as a preferred destination among key source markets. According to provisional data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), February witnessed the arrival of 218,350 international visitors, marking a remarkable 102.8 percent Year-on-Year (YoY) expansion compared to the same period in 2023. Cumulatively, from January 1 to February 29, tourist arrivals totaled 426,603. In December 2023, Sri Lanka hosted 210,352 visitors, followed by 208,253 in January.
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In response to this growing momentum, Tourism Minister Harin Fernando expressed enthusiasm on X, formerly Twitter, citing an “amazing two months” for Sri Lankan tourism in 2024. However, the February target fell short, with arrival figures failing to meet both the lower scenario expectation of 220,091 and the upper scenario of 238,614. Additionally, the weekly arrival average increased to 54,500 for the month, with a daily average of approximately 7,500. Notably, on February 24, tourist arrivals surpassed the 10,000 mark for the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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In February, the Russian Federation emerged as Sri Lanka’s largest tourist traffic generator, contributing 15 percent of total arrivals, followed by India at 14 percent and the United Kingdom at 9 percent. Other major source markets include Germany, China, France, Poland, Australia, and the United States. Despite efforts to boost tourist arrivals, concerns have arisen regarding a segment of tourists engaging in business activities within the tourism sector, predominantly affecting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Stakeholders highlight this trend dating back to 2022, with its prevalence steadily increasing. Authorities’ apparent disregard for unregistered tourist-run enterprises poses challenges to Sri Lanka’s aspiration of attracting high-spending tourists. These unregistered entities operate without financial obligations, enabling them to offer products and services at considerably lower rates, undercutting legitimate businesses.
Furthermore, the tourism industry in Sri Lanka is experiencing significant expansion due to enhanced recognition of the country as a must-visit destination. The implementation of visa-free travel for nationals of China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan has also effectively encouraged prospective visitors to prioritize a visit to Sri Lanka. Before their arrival, citizens of the aforementioned nations who wish to travel to Sri Lanka must submit an application for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), contingent upon the provision of a visa, at no cost.
The duration of the program is until March 2024, whereas the visa is valid for thirty days, allowing for two entries beginning with the date of initial entrance in Sri Lanka. However, according to industry sources, the increase in tourist arrivals could potentially motivate a further extension of the visa-free travel scheme. With an anticipated influx of 2 million tourists in 2024, the tourism industry may yield a yearly revenue of $6 billion.
