Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau records increase in tourist arrivals in the month of July
Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities have stated that tourist arrivals to the country, which were affected by the Easter Sunday attacks, had recovered to 3,200 arrivals a day on average in the first week of July.
This is an increase from 2,500 arrivals a day that was recorded a week earlier.
“In the first week of July, arrivals averaged 3,200 a day,” Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau Chairman Kishu Gomes has told the local media.
This is a 54 percent drop from the 7,027 daily arrivals in July 2018, but, a recovery from the average 2,500 a day arrivals in the last week of June.
“We are seeing a recovery in arrivals, which is encouraging,” Gomes has told EconomyNext.
The country’s tourism industry experiences an off-peak season from April to October each year.
However, since around 2015, arrivals in July had been higher than the off-peak season, due to a pick up from Chinese holidaymakers, the media report has stated.
Sri Lanka has been focusing more on the Indian market, which is the largest source of tourists for Sri Lanka, with budget tour packages and the industry is reportedly expecting more Indian visitors, after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Sri Lanka in June. Air India has also announced the recommencement of its third daily flight to Colombo from the second week of July.
OSL take:
The increase in tourist arrivals to the country in the month of July following the slump in April in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks is a clear indication of the quick and impressive revival recorded by Sri Lanka’s tourism sector. There have been new investments in the country’s tourism sector in the recent months as recorded by the country’s investment promotions agency. Tourist arrivals to the country are expected to see a further boost given Sri Lanka’s promotional campaigns overseas and the many packages/deals offered. Also, Sri Lanka continues to remain as the tourist destination of the year in leading global travel magazines. Therefore, foreign businesses/investors could explore business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/18072019/Z_2 |