Sri Lanka’s tourism industry sees highest post-Covid arrivals in September
Sri Lanka has reportedly recorded the highest number of tourist arrivals in the post-Covid scenario in September with 13,547 arrivals. This has reportedly increased the cumulative number of tourist arrivals to the country to over 37,000.
The relaxation of travel restrictions and aggressive vaccination drive had largely contributed to the increase in tourist arrivals in September. The increase in arrivals has recorded a sharp increase of 169% from August.
According to tourism authorities, arrivals in the first nine months were 37,924, which is a major development since the reopening of borders on 21 January.
The data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has revealed that in September, the largest source markets were India (8,528), Pakistan (1,225) and Germany (466), followed by the United Kingdom (309) and Russia (304).
Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry has stated that over 12 million Sri Lankan citizens have received both doses of the Covid 19 vaccine.
Sri Lanka is looking at further relaxing travel restrictions in a bid to make Sri Lanka more attractive to international travellers.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry was one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the country until the Covid 19 pandemic brought about global travel restrictions. However, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is on a steady path to recovery posing continuously increasing numbers of tourist arrivals to the country. Sri Lanka has been listed as a must visit destination by several leading global travel publications and has been slotted as one of the Top 10 island destinations. Also, the receipt of the internationally recognised safety and hygiene certifications by Sri Lanka’s airports have made the island an attractive post Covid travel destination. Amidst all these, Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities have launched a global promotional campaign to boost the tourism industry as well as explore new tourism concepts. Given the positive movements in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, foreign businesses/investors could explore business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/14102021/Z_2 |