The tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka in the first week of October crossed the 25,000 mark, the provisional data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) showed. 

From October 1 to 8, Sri Lanka welcomed a total of 26,272 international visitors. This brings the cumulative arrivals for the January 1 to October 8 period to 1,042,528.

The target set for October by the tourism authorities is 147,789 and 17.7 percent of that target had been realised as of October 8. 

The daily arrival average for the month up to October 8 was 3,284.

In its weekly tourist arrival report, the SLTDA announced an expected fourth quarter (4Q23) tourist arrival figure of 533,744 and expressed confidence in achieving the year’s target of 1.55 million arrivals. 

Just as the previous months, India ranked as the largest tourist traffic generator for Sri Lanka, accounting for 24 percent of the total arrivals, with 6,293 visitors.

Ranking second was the Russian Federation, contributing to 9 percent, with 2,352, followed by the United Kingdom, accounting for 7 percent of the total arrivals, with 1,904 international visitors.

The other key markets included China, Germany, Australia, the Maldives, United States, Spain and the Netherlands.

PIC BY PRADEEP PATHIRANA