Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals record 3.2 percent in 2017
The tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka have recorded a growth of 3.2 percent to 2,116,407 million in 2017.
However, the figure is short of the 2.5 million target announced by Tourism Minister John Amaratunga in 2017.
The Tourism Ministry has reportedly blamed the closure of the main airport for repairs, a countrywide dengue epidemic and floods in the South for the slow growth.
However, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority data has reported that December arrivals have grown by 8.8 percent to 244,536 from 224,791 in 2016, the Tourism Ministry has said.
According to reports, India continued to be the top source market with 384,628 arrivals up 7.8 percent.
Chinese arrivals have recorded a decline of 1 percent to 268,952. UK was up 7.3 percent to 201,879.
The Katunayake airport was the entry point for 2,085,272 tourists, while 5,491 landed in Mattala, 10,569, entered from Colombo Harbour, 14,099 from Galle Harbour and 976 at other ports.
OSL take:
The growth recorded in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector indicates the continuously growing opportunities in the country’s tourism industry. Foreign investors should consider investing in Sri Lanka’s services sector given the slow, yet continuous growth in the sector.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20180110/Z_1 |