Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka for the first 13 days of December surpassed 73,000, signaling an improved influx of international visitors.
Provisional data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) showed that during the period from December 1 to 13 Sri Lanka welcomed a total of 73, 590 tourists.
With SLTDA aiming to draw 242, 135 arrivals for December, 30 percent of this target has been fulfilled up to December 13. This brings the cumulative tourist arrivals to the island nation to 1.3 million, realising 87 percent of the target set for 2023.
The SLTDA and the Tourism Ministry have set a target of 1.55 million arrivals for the year 2023, which they are confident of meeting.
The weekly arrival average has improved and reached the level of about 36,000. In the first week of December, Sri Lanka welcomed 38, 046, whereas in the second week (six days) the total arrivals stood at 35, 544.
Accordingly, the daily arrival average for the month of December so far is 5,660.
India continues to retain its position as the largest source market for Sri Lanka tourism, bringing in 20 percent of the total tourism arrivals for the month so far.
The Russian Federation, ranking second, accounted for 14 percent of the total arrivals, while the United Kingdom, the third largest tourist traffic generator, contributed to 10 percent of total arrivals.
Other key markets include Germany, China, Australia, France, Canada, and the United States.
Sri Lanka Travel Feneteko