December income from the tourism trade showed continued improvement, recording over US$ 100 million for the second month in a row as the beleaguered industry is making a comeback after been beset by multiple crises since 2019.
The data for December showed that Sri Lanka had earned US$ 127.4 million from tourism, up from US$ 107.5 million in November, as the country is currently witnessing higher arrivals due strong pent-up demand as a result of the pandemic.
In December, Sri Lanka received 91,961 visitors, up from 59,759 in November bringing the annual total arrivals to 719,978, the highest since 2019.
However, December earnings were down from US$ 233.3 million a year ago.
With December earnings, Sri Lanka ended 2022 with a cumulative US$ 1,136.3 million in earnings from the trade.
While Sri Lanka managed to capitalise on the stronger winter arrivals, China’s reopening for outbound and inbound travellers is expected to provide a massive boost for the global travel and tourism market, including Sri Lanka, from 2023 and beyond.
Before the pandemic struck, China remained a key source market for Sri Lanka, second only to India.
At its peak in 2018, Sri Lanka received US$ 4.8 billion from the trade before that was buffeted in 2019 by the Easter Sunday deadly attacks before being nearly decimated by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
In 2021, Sri Lanka earned US$ 506.9 million from tourism.
The relative calm in the socio political landscape, economy which shows some semblance of normalcy after last year’s upheaval and the pent-up travel demand have had a positive impact on the industry in the last few months.
SL tops list of 24 must-visit countries in 2023
Destination Sri Lanka has topped the list of 24 must-visit countries for the year 2023 by India’s leading online holiday marketplace, Traveltriangle.
Sri Lanka is ranked in first position, placed above Germany, Zimbabwe, Panama, and Kyrgyzstan as the preferred destination for 2023.
“Golden beaches, wildlife-rich jungles, rolling tea plantations, and mist-shrouded mountains make Sri Lanka one of the best Asian countries to visit.
Tourists marvel at the beauty and physical diversity of this island. The view from the top of Sri Lanka’s fourth-highest peak, Adam’s peak, is known to be stunning.
You can hike this world heritage site within 5-6 hours, depending on your degree of fitness,” Traveltriangle said in its description of the picturesque island nation.
