Tourist arrivals up for third consecutive month in July

Sri Lanka saw a pickup in the number of tourist arrivals for the month of July with 2,429 visitors coming in. The total number of visitors to the country for the first seven months was 19,337. Following the steep decline witnessed in April, the number of tourist arrivals is now on an upward trajectory. The numbers have increased, marginally, for the third consecutive month.

According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the improvement in international arrivals is largely due to factors such as vaccination programmes around the world, softer restrictions for vaccinated travellers and growing consumer confidence. The United Kingdom, Maldives, and United States emerged as the largest source markets for the month of July

The United Kingdom accounted for 14.1 percent of the total traffic, while Maldives accounted for 10.3 percent, and the United States 10 percent.

Region wise, Europe became the largest source of tourist traffic to Sri Lanka with 53.4 percent of the total traffic for the month. Asia and Pacific accounted for 26.8 percent of the total traffic while Americas accounted for 17.4 percent.

“The presence of countries from the Americas, Western, Central & Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific regions among the top source markets reflects the gradual revitalisation of tourism industry fuelled by factors such as gradual improvement of traveller confidence, lifting of travel restrictions and roll out of the COVID 19 vaccine,” SLTDA said.

It pointed out that Pakistan being listed among the top 10 source markets, securing 9th position, is noteworthy.

For the January to July period this year, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Germany, China and the United Kingdom were Sri Lanka’s top five international tourist generating markets. Kazakhstan was the largest source of tourist traffic to Sri Lanka with 21 percent of the total traffic for 2021. Ukraine accounted for 18 percent of the total traffic; while Germany, China and the United Kingdom accounted for 12 percent, 9 percent, and 9 percent respectively.