Sri Lanka aims for 2.3Mn tourists, USD 4Bn in 2024

12 March 2024 03:23 pm - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Colombo, March 12 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka tourism aims to attract 2.3 million tourists in 2024 and earn over USD 4 billion, Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said.

After concluding 2024 event of the ITB Berlin Convention, the world’s leading travel industry think tank the minister said Sri Lanka Tourism is launching its destination brand campaign globally with a new positioning and a tagline: ‘You’ll come back for more’.

"What inspired us was the simple fact that 33% of our travellers are repeat visitors. We have people from across the world returning to Sri Lanka, some as many as 100 to 150 times. When you listen to their stories and experiences on our island, you will realise that there is something special about Sri Lanka. It’s not just a bucket-list country. There is a deep bond Sri Lanka creates with our visitors and as a result, they keep coming back for the people, the places, and the moments. We want to share this unique story of our island with the world. Under the new destination positioning, we have a 360-degree approach to telling our story. But while we communicate all that we have to offer the world, we will also ensure the quality of the experiences each traveller has with us is also rich.”

"The long-term target is even more ambitious, with plans to welcome 5 million arrivals and generate USD 21.6 billion in revenue by 2030.

"The country is taking a holistic approach to its global marketing and promotion campaigns, in addition to product development. This strategy aims to position the island as a destination that travellers could visit year-round," he said.

In the first few months of 2024, the island saw unprecedented growth in arrivals. February recorded a total of 218,350 tourist arrivals, marking the third consecutive month with over 200,000 arrivals. This is the highest number of tourist arrivals reported since January 2020, prior to the pandemic.

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Comments - 9

Wiseman Tuesday, 12 March 2024 04:04 PM

Can you start settling the loans the country owes now?

BuffaloaCitizen Tuesday, 12 March 2024 04:17 PM

We have heard these "AIMS" from politicians before this. One even promised to start Oil drilling which would have lead to our Sinhalese women returning back from ME and employing Saudi House Maids to clean their hamlets in the village. Stop this boru show and bull shit and announce after it has happened and achieved.

Smh Tuesday, 12 March 2024 04:24 PM

Most are backpackers, social media travelers, migrants visiting families and budget travelers. No one is spending big $$$ in these categories. Change your marketing strategy and train hotel staff to be more professional to appeal to luxury market. If they can stop small talk and asking personal questions, or invoking sympathy by their whining and hinting at giving them money, people will be more at ease coming to SL.

Ranga Tuesday, 12 March 2024 04:24 PM

WTF another tag line Everytime government change this stupid tag lines changes

foreign tourist numbers Tuesday, 12 March 2024 06:19 PM

I was returning home after a brief holiday in Phuket Thailand when I coud not believe my eyes the amount of travellers waiting to board a plane at midnight to get to their destination. The airport was packed and hardly any room to move and it was so huge about five times the size of Sri Lanka's Katunayake International Airport. I was so curious to find out how many tourists visited Thailand annually and according to google an esimated 25 million foreign tourists visit every year.

Mahila Tuesday, 12 March 2024 07:43 PM

USD 1739 average per Tourist Spend as estimated!!?? Very ambitious, well who cares, when it is election year and may not be there next year to answer, if outcome is different!! Good aspirational Budgeting Policy!!??

Sambo Tuesday, 12 March 2024 08:03 PM

ut please don't mention Sri Lankan Air Lines. They will never come back.

Urgent Need to Clean Tuesday, 12 March 2024 10:14 PM

Better have clean and good working condition toilets at tourist spots and places of worship. Imagine the mess and publicity if these basic needs are not provided. Charge a nominal fee for the maintenance which most tourist will gladly pay.

Ensure Basic Tourist Needs Looked After Wednesday, 13 March 2024 10:35 AM

Tourism is picking up in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore etc. Everyone wanting to have a share of the tourist money and thinking out of box to get it. Must ensure the basic things like clean toilets, friendly hospitality, convenient transport etc is a must have.

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Sri Lanka aims for 2.3Mn tourists, USD 4Bn in 2024

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