Despite being a slow month, tourist arrivals are expected to exceed 100,000 by the end of May, according to industry analysts. This influx is set to push the cumulative number of tourists closer to 900,000 for the year.
As of May 21, a total of 79,431 tourists had arrived, bringing the total for the year to 864,082. The daily average number of tourists was recorded at 3,782.
Analysts said that if Sri Lanka maintains the current daily average for the rest of May, the month would see over 100,000 tourist arrivals despite being off-season. During the last phase of the winter season, Sri Lanka attracted over 200,000 tourists per month.
So far in May, the top three markets generating tourists were India, the Maldives, and Germany. Additionally, visitors from the UK, China, Australia, Russia, France, the US, and Canada contributed to the month’s arrivals.
On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, India, Russia, and the UK have emerged as the leading sources of tourists for Sri Lanka.
“The steady influx of tourists is a positive indicator for the country’s tourism industry, which continues to recover and grow despite facing challenges,” analysts added.
For 2024, Sri Lanka Tourism expects to attract over 2.3 million visitors and generate an income of over $4 billion.