Tourist earnings surpass USD 2.34 Bn mark by Sept. eclipsing total 2023 figure

Sri Lanka Tourism achieved a unique landmark when its total earnings for end September 2024 of USD 2,348.0 million surpassed the total revenue generated from tourism in 2023 which was US dollars 2,068 million.

This is a 61.2% growth over the past year.

In September 2023 tourism receipts accounted for 152.2 million and it increased to USD181 million last month. Tourist earnings were estimated at USD 2,167 mn during January to August 2024 compared to USD 1,304 million during January-August 2023.

The total revenue registered from tourism in 2022 was USD1,136 million. Sri Lanka Tourism also achieved another landmark when it exceeded the previous full year arrivals number (1,487,303) by September 2024. In 2023 the total arrivals were 1,487,303.

During the month of September 2024, a total number of 112,140 tourist arrivals were recorded which showed a 9% growth compared to last year.

The key source markets which contributed to this achievement were India, China, UK, Germany, Australia, Maldives, Russia, Bangladesh, Spain and France.

Sri Lanka tourism also achieved 17 notable global recognitions this year which included the Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka being recognized as one of the best in the world by the National Geographic, Sri Lanka being recognized by the Forbes magazine as the fourth most popular travel destination for 2024, and the most recent being ranked as one of the best countries to visit in your lifetime by the CEO World magazine. (SS)