The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has reported a significant milestone in 2024, with international tourist arrivals surpassing 1.5 million by October. Among the visitors, India remains the largest and fastest-growing source market, demonstrating a robust recovery in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
In the first half of October alone, Sri Lanka welcomed 63,491 international tourists, contributing to a total of 1.55 million arrivals so far this year. This growth reflects a steady increase in tourism, although the rate of growth has slightly declined from the peak winter months, particularly in January and February, when the country experienced over 100% growth compared to the previous year. The decline in growth rates in September, which recorded a 9.11% increase, has been attributed in part to the recent presidential elections held on the island.
From October 7 to 15, the average daily tourist arrivals were recorded at 4,169, a slight decrease from the previous days but an improvement compared to the 4,071 tourists per day in September. The SLTDA noted that the daily average for the first half of October was approximately 4,233 tourists.
India remained at the forefront of visitor numbers in October, with 18,078 arrivals during the first half of the month. Other notable source markets included China and the United Kingdom, with 4,504 and 4,495 arrivals, respectively. Germany, Russia, and Australia followed in fourth, fifth, and sixth positions.
In total, for the year 2024, India has accounted for 304,634 arrivals, maintaining its status as the top source market, while the UK and Russia ranked second and third with 140,959 and 130,701 arrivals, respectively. The SLTDA has forecasted approximately 155,070 tourist arrivals for the entire month of October, indicating a continued upward trend in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
