Over 100,000 tourists arrive in January: Harin

1 February 2023 03:04 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 16 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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More than 100,000 tourists arrived in the country in January, Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said today.

While publishing a summary report on tourist arrivals up to January 31, he said that there was a growth due to the encouragement of the tourism sector.

Accordingly, 82,327 tourists arrived in January 2022 and 102,545 tourists arrived in January 2023.

A total of 719,978 tourists arrived in 2022. Meanwhile, 96,507 tourists arrived in February last year, 106,500 in March, 62,980 in April, 30,207 in May, 32,856 in June, 47,293 in July, 37,760 in August, 29,802 in September, 42,026 in October, 59,759 in November, and 91,961 in December. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)

Comments - 16

Cugan Wednesday, 01 February 2023 04:20 PM

Arrange connecting from BIA to jaffna

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S. Samarakoon Wednesday, 01 February 2023 04:59 PM

Numbers are distorted. Even Sri Lankans coming in with Dual Citizenship are included. Most Tourists are the back packers.

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Gunadasa Wednesday, 01 February 2023 07:13 PM

Not correct. Those who are entering the county after paying for a tourist visa are counted as foreign tourists. If a dual citizen entering the country using his Sri Lankan passport he is not considered as foreign tourist

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Shera Wednesday, 01 February 2023 05:25 PM

Majority of visitors or "tourists" are Sri Lankan expats who visit family, or come from nearby countries who don't spend much; or the backpacking or youtube content creators who definitely spend next to nothing. The country needs better marketing, luxury standards and professionalism of staff, and offer much more recreational activities in resorts like their upmarket competitors in the region.

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Alexander Navarini Wednesday, 01 February 2023 05:32 PM

And where goes the millions of revenue made with the enormous visa fee charged to tourist ?

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Thushara Wednesday, 01 February 2023 06:05 PM

Wherever they come from it is a start of a turnaround. Even in small amounts they bring money from outside the country and spend it in Sri Lanka. It is easy for people standing outside to criticize. But we are thankful for the improvement the industry that we have experienced over the past two months. Hope this improvement will continue for the remainder of the year.

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Ceylonese Wednesday, 01 February 2023 07:11 PM

Most of the foreign tourits that visit Sri Lanka are back packers from Europe looking for a cheap holiday destination during the winter season in warmer climes like Sri Lanka. Also many tourists from India who come to purchase goods from the Duty Free as the Indian Rupee goes a long way compared to the Sri Lankan Rupee.

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P.Sky Wednesday, 01 February 2023 07:24 PM

So our foreign currency problems are over; politicians can start their overseas travelling.

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Ranjith Wednesday, 01 February 2023 09:19 PM

Pre pandemic period between 200000 to 225000 used visit Srilanka in January please check the past records, also we need upmarket tourists not backpackers most of the tourists are in Ella and Hikkaduwa

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Hikkabuwa Thursday, 02 February 2023 01:52 AM

You need to release the income generated and actual input to economy, no point just saying got these number of tourists with data to show economic impact.

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Jeanne Ferrer Thursday, 02 February 2023 03:15 AM

Utter nonsense! These are not tourists!!! They are Sri Lankan expats visiting their families.

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Punchi Thursday, 02 February 2023 08:35 AM

We shouldn’t knock the quality and quantity of tourists coming to our superior 2500 year old Buddhist civilisation to feast on a Buddhist culture and heritage that is greater than that of Rome and Venice and is the greatest civilisation in the history of mankind

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joshua Thursday, 02 February 2023 08:41 AM

Yes, but check whether they are staying in the airport itself as hotels do not get most of these tourists.

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Jacky jack Thursday, 02 February 2023 09:24 AM

We are very surprised by the numbers. We have a Hotel and this is the first time in 10 years that we are completely empty. The only tourists are Russians with no money... They rent 2-bedroom houses to 8 or 10 people, which are very often unsanitary. There are no Europeans because of the sharp increase in visas for Sri Lanka and the 100% increase in plane tickets. It's the worst season...

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ACL Friday, 03 February 2023 06:15 AM

What a load of BS. These tourists are SL expats visiting families or tourist renting houses. Look at the youtube bloggers. They stay in houses and eat at kottu kades. SL has a long way to go to attract the proper tourists. Quality and standards have dropped drastically. Do NOT boast figures to justify your position Min of Tourism. You are utterly clueless.

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Ceylonese Friday, 03 February 2023 06:27 AM

Despite the lack of many basic essential items in the country and exhorbitant prices of groceries and many people can't even afford to have three meals a day it is not fair to be promoting tourism and feeding the tourists who are prepared to spend big money at the expense of the ordinary people who can't even afford to feed themselves with whatever is available at a price.

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