Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities target 1.9-2 million tourist arrivals this year
Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities say the country is expecting to draw 1.9 million to 2 million tourists in 2019, which is a decline from the arrivals recorded last year.
Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka are to be aided by lower prices and tightened security following the Easter Sunday bombings in April.
Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Kishu Gomes has been quoted as saying that security has been tightened and tourism authorities are co-coordinating closely with the security authorities and intelligence.
Gomes has stated that Sri Lanka is expecting 117,000 tourists to arrive in country in July.
Daily average arrivals which fell to 1,700 in May had increased to 2,100 in June and by late July daily arrivals had grown to about 4,000, reports state.
The government of Sri Lanka has also introduced a programme to waive visa fees for citizens of 48 countries for one month short term visas effective from August 1.
All tourists are encouraged to apply online for electronic travel authorization, to avoid delays at the airport while the airport will also have on arrival visa facility.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is on the fast track to revival following the setback suffered in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks in April. The tourist arrivals to the country have since been on a growth path and the many packages/deals offered by the industry along with the recognition of Sri Lanka as a must visit tourist destination have further boosted the country’s tourism industry. The positive developments in the tourism sector have resulted in the expansion of business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/02082019/Z_5 |