27 August 2024 03:23 am Views - 3359
The United Kingdom (UK) has overtaken Russia as the second largest source market for the first time this year, in cumulative tourist arrivals as of August 22, recording 125,103 arrivals.
In August (up to 22nd), the tourist arrivals slowed down to 131,597 arrivals, recording a daily average of 5982 arrivals when compared to the 6058 daily average recorded in July.
However, the country achieved 66.84 percent of the conservative forecast (187,155) set for the month as of July 22. Based on the average daily tourist arrivals, Sri Lanka is expected to receive over 185,000 arrivals by the end of this month, nearly achieving the conservative target but falling behind 200,359 tourist arrivals recorded in August 2018.
India continued to account for the largest source of arrivals in the month, with 19.1 percent, followed by 11.3 percent and 7 percent arrivals from the UK and China. Italy and Germany occupied the fourth and fifth positions accordingly.
As of August 22, the cumulative arrivals reached 1,329,656 tourists. India took the top spot with 250,727 and the UK overtook Russia as the second largest source market for the first time this year, with 125,103 arrivals. Russia fell to the third spot with 121,941 arrivals.
Over the past two months, Russia didn’t appear among the top 10 source markets. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Managing Director Nalin Perera recently noted that the tourism authorities are in discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority to reintroduce concessions on airport charges at Mattala International Airport, in a bid to attract Russian tourists via charter flights.
Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities remain confident of achieving over one million tourists in the next few months, particularly during the October-December period, in order to meet the 2.3 million tourist arrival target set for the year. (NF)