- December welcomes 248,592 arrivals, marking 18.18% YoY growth.
- Average daily arrivals in Dec. hit 8,019 visitors.
- Earnings for 2024 estimated to have crossed $3 billion
- India retains the single largest market with 416,974 visitors, or 20.3% of total arrivals, followed by Russia and the UK.
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry concluded 2024 with over 2.05 million arrivals.
The performance represents the highest annual figure since 2019, showcasing a remarkable 38.07% year-on-year (YoY) growth.
December 2024 also saw 248,592 arrivals, an 18.18% increase compared to the same period last year, marking the highest monthly performance of the year.
The average daily arrivals reached a new milestone of 8,019 visitors, up from 6,139 in November 2024.
December arrivals, projected at 256,389, the strong December numbers helped push the annual total past the critical 2 million mark—a feat not achieved since 2019.
India retained its position as Sri Lanka’s largest source market, contributing 416,974 visitors, or 20.3% of total arrivals. Other significant markets included the Russian Federation with 201,920 (9.8%), the UK with 178,339 (8.7%), Germany with 136,084 (6.6%), and China with 131,681 (6.4%).
Tourism earnings for 2023 are estimated to have surpassed the $3 billion mark. This recovery mirrors the country’s robust growth in 2010.
“The momentum gained in 2023 presents an opportunity for Sri Lanka to build on its success,”
For this year, Sri Lanka Tourism is expecting 3 million arrivals and $5 billion in income, with a five-year plan to attract over 5 million visitors and generate around $8.5 to $10 billion in revenue.
Source: https://www.ft.lk/
Sri Lanka Travel Feneteko