Sri Lanka tourism records 1.49 Million visitors in 2023

Sri Lanka marked the end of the year 2023 by welcoming a total of 210,552 tourists in December, bringing the annual visitor count to 1,487,303, as reported by Priyantha Fernando, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Development Authority. The figures indicate a substantial effort to revive the tourism sector, which has been recovering from the impacts of the global pandemic.

India emerged as the leading source of tourists, contributing 43,973 visitors, followed closely by the Russian Federation with 29,657 visitors. The December statistics revealed a diverse international interest, with the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia rounding up the top five tourist markets for the month.

Despite falling slightly short of the initial target of 1.5 million visitors for the year 2023, Sri Lanka remains optimistic about the trajectory of its tourism industry. In an interview with EconomyNext in November 2023, Priyantha Fernando expressed confidence, stating that Sri Lanka is setting its sights on hosting 2.3 million tourists in 2024.

The tourism sector's recovery and growth are crucial for Sri Lanka's economic development, and the country is actively working towards creating an attractive and safe destination for global travelers. As the world grapples with the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic, Sri Lanka's ambitious tourism targets signal a resilient effort to position itself as a premier travel destination in the coming year.