Holidaymakers cross 700, 000 mark in first six months
The tourism industry is gearing for a high growth target at 1.5 million in line with expectations as holidaymakers to Sri Lanka continue to rise.
Sri Lanka experienced a sizable growth of 24.6 per cent during the first six months with arrivals topping
727, 353.
January saw a surge in arrivals compared to 2013, up by 32.6 per cent at 146, 575 and February, increased by 24.5 per cent, March increased by 17.5 per cent to 133, 048. But April recorded a high turnover compared to the previous year’s figure up from 80, 737 to 112,631. May and June that were relatively low turnouts in other years recorded significant increases up by 20.3 per cent and 14.3 per cent, respectively.
India topped the number of holidaymakers to the country in the first six months with the highest arrivals recorded last month at 114, 238, up by 23.6 per cent.
UK dominated the second highest arrivals with China and Germany following suit at third and fourth places. Chinese visitors dominated this year’s figures in the first six months since the increases were significant with jumps from 3, 328 to 10, 779 in January and the highest recorded last month at 52, 230 up by 137.2 per cent.
More tourists arrived from the German, Russian and French markets but a notable sudden increase in Maldivian visitors was noted in June at fifth place, up by a marginal 2.1 per cent. While German visitors continued to see a good growth France was notably slow and Russia also continued to pick up in terms of growth in arrivals.
Hotelier Anura Lokuhetty said the industry should be able to touch 1.5 million tourists with an average spend of US$120. In this respect, he believes the revenue expectations could attract $1.75 billion by the end of the year.
Aitken Spence Executive Director/ Consultant Malin Hapugoda said his chain of hotels has seen an increase in the number of online booking trends.
In this respect, he pointed out that they were geared to cater to this segment of travellers since online bookings directly from the hotels and through travel agents have today become more popular.
He noted that this was good for the country as it proved that there was increased confidence in the country.
Aitken Spence hotels was currently attracting 10-20 per cent of its visitors through online bookings for which they respond within eight hours.
Mr. Hapugoda noted that while some book early a majority would make bookings a week or two in advance by paying through their secure payment channel and reservations would be made instantaneously.
Meanwhile, in other trends observed there was an increasing opportunity for the destination to become a shopper’s paradise.
It was noted that most travellers were found to do gem sales and even the French visitors wanted to do shopping while staying at the smaller hotels.
Connaisance de Ceylan Chairman/ Managing Director Chandra Wickremesinghe said the Chinese segment would spend an average of $140 per day and there was a demand for shopping space. In this respect, in time to come Sri Lanka could become a “shopping destination as well,” he noted.
Commenting on the need to attract the Free Individual Traveller (FIT) who were considered the upmarket clientele, he noted that this was not required as “tourism should not feed only to rich hotels but must cater to the mass” as well.
He noted that visitors to Sri Lanka come to enjoy the social life and it was noted that due to the war they were unable to attract the right clientele.
But by having the correct infrastructure in place and increasing accessibility to the south the industry was capable of enhancing services to this segment.
Sri Lanka Travel Feneteko