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Sri Lanka attracts nearly 200,000 tourists in 2021 with hopes of returning to normalcy in 2022

Sri Lanka attracts nearly 200,000 tourists in 2021 with hopes of returning to normalcy in 2022

Sri Lanka has reportedly attracted nearly 200,000 tourists in 2021 despite challenges posed by the global Covid 19 pandemic, according to local media reports.
Media reports referring to provisional data have stated that Sri Lanka had finished 2021 with 194,495 tourists with December attracting a record 89,506, which is the highest for a month since the pandemic that started in March 2020.
According to reports, India has topped the list of countries bringing in the most tourists with 56,268; followed by Russia 16,894, UK 16,646, Germany 12,442, and Ukraine 7,037.
The 2021 figure is however lower in comparison to 507,704 tourists attracted in 2020 largely on account of robust inflows since 2019 and tail-end of the 2019/20 winter season while Sri Lankan borders were closed for 10 months from March 2020.
The partial reopening of borders in January has resulted in 1,682 tourist arrivals that have been on the rise in tandem with the vaccination roll-out, improved health and safety precautions, and easing of travel restrictions.
Sri Lanka’s Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has reportedly described the achievement of nearly 200,000 tourist arrivals in 2021 amidst the pandemic as a major breakthrough.
“We hope this trend will continue. Our expectations are that tourist arrivals will improve to 100-125,000 in January,” Ranatunga has said, adding that in 2022, the Sri Lankan government will work towards increasing tourist arrivals ensuring its quicker revival and enhancing the contribution to the socio-economic recovery in the country.

OSL take:

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry was one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the country when the global Covid 19 pandemic brought about global travel restrictions. However, the industry is now on the path to recovery showing a steady growth in tourist arrivals to the country. Sri Lanka’s successful Covid vaccination programme and the receipt of the internationally recognised safety and hygiene certifications by the country’s airports have made the island an attractive post Covid travel destination. Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities have also launched a promotional campaign in key foreign source markets and offers attractive packages to foreign travellers to the country. Also, Sri Lanka being slotted among the Top 10 island destinations in the world has also helped boost Sri Lanka’s image as a tourist destination. The positive growth in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has in turn expanded business/investment opportunities in the industry. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore explore business opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.

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Article Code : VBS/AT/06012022/Z_5

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