Tourist arrivals have crossed the half a million mark by end April as the country continues to enjoy high growth with the post-war rebound in the leisure sector. As per data released yesterday, tourist arrivals in April grew by 39.5% to 112,631 over a year earlier and the large numbers brought the total during the first four months to 534,132, an increase of 27.6%. So far this year, monthly arrivals have been over 100,000 each
April arrivals were boosted by good performance from both traditional and emerging markets. Arrivals from Western Europe rose by 48% to 37,369 in April with UK arrivals up 43% to 12,380. Visitors from Germany were up 59.6% to 8,137. France came third with 5,970 arrivals, up by 43% over April 2013.
In the first four months, Western Europe produced 181,129 tourists, up by 18.5% with UK responsible for 51,415 arrivals, up by 9% and Germany following with 41,101 arrivals, higher by 24% over the first four months of 2013. India dominated April arrivals with 17,192 up by 36% whilst in the first four months the figure was 71,346, up by 20%. Arrivals from South Asia rose by 20% to 112,232 up to April and by 28% to 28,000 in the month. China, the new star, produced 36,803 arrivals up to April, a growth of 136% whilst in April Chinese tourists rose by 170% to 8,005. Japan, produced 12,377 tourists, up by 42% up to April whilst in the month arrivals grew by 90% to 2,368.
Overall the East Asian region generated 91,055 tourists up to April, a growth of 55% whilst in April arrivals rose by 61% to 18,416. Eastern Europe is the third largest generating market with 77,265 arrivals up to April, up by 51% whilst it saw 25% growth in April to 10,844. Arrivals from the Middle East were up 17% to 23,692 up to April and by 25% to 5,302 in the month.
On Monday the Central Bank said earnings from tourism rose by 34% to $ 609 million in the first three months of 2014.
Source: http://www.ft.lk/2014/05/07/tourist-arrivals-cross-half-a-million-mark-in-4-months/
Sri Lanka Travel Feneteko