Tourist arrivals cross 600,000 mark

26 November 2022 06:53 am - 24 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The tourist arrivals to the country for the first 20 days of November totalled 37,490, resulting in the total number of international visitors entering the country crossing the 600,000 mark.

The provisional data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority showed that with the November arrival numbers, Sri Lanka has welcomed a total of 605,748 visitors to the country for the year 2022 so far.
As of November 20, the average daily arrival is 1,874. This is a significant improvement, given that following the economic and political turmoil that erupted in April, Sri Lanka average daily arrival was in the 1,200 to 1,400 range.

However, the weekly analysis shows the third week of November (November 15 to 20) witnessed a dip in the arrival rate when compared with the second week.

The second week, (November 08 to 14) saw 13,051 international visitors entering the country, whereas the first week (November 01 to 07) saw 12,431 tourists coming into Sri Lanka.

The Russian Federation tops the list as the largest tourist traffic generator for November, accounting for 25 percent of the total arrivals. India ranks second, as it contributed to 17 percent of the total arrivals and the UK ranks third, bringing in 8 percent of the total number of international visitors.

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Comments - 24

Jude Saturday, 26 November 2022 08:26 AM

More than 80% of them Indians and Chinese, yeah!!

Terre Saturday, 26 November 2022 08:54 AM

How many football fans belong to various nationalities came from Qatar after promoting the special package?

Jude Saturday, 26 November 2022 09:55 AM

Don't Bragg about the tourists arrival numbers we all know there's NOT even HUNDRED high spenders include there!! Chapati eating noodles goblins are NOT all tourists, Huh??

Suresh Saturday, 26 November 2022 10:17 AM

According to WTO chapathi eating people are the most spending tourists in the world...what's wrong with you guys

Judge Saturday, 26 November 2022 10:26 AM

How do you increase tourists when you charge them increased visa fees and exorbitant entrance fees to places?. Stupid ignorant politicians don't know how to do it. Go and check Thailand Malaysia how welcoming they are and how cheap accommodation and food there. $75 hotel rooms in SL cost around $20 there.

Reformist Saturday, 26 November 2022 10:37 AM

How many of those Indians are here in SL to sell sarees? Many from UK and Australia are SL skilled migrants visiting their families.

Aquarius Saturday, 26 November 2022 01:42 PM

One important factor that has to be addressed and changed is the entrance fees charged for non-Sri Lankans to visit historic places in the country. All over the world, the rates to visit any tourist attraction is the same for everyone - local or foreign. It is also embarrassing as Sri lanknas to stand in a different, cheaper queue, when foreigners are asked to pay more to see the same thing.

K.L Pathirana Saturday, 26 November 2022 01:43 PM

This is exactly the type of tourist we need, many are Indians, backpack groups of Russians and of course the insect eating Chinese. At the increased airfares, nearly 40% increase in comparison to a year back, I am sure everyone is eager to come here, including the (made up story of) mega passenger cruise-liner just to purge their sewage into the port of Colombo.

Gayan Saturday, 26 November 2022 03:07 PM

Unfortunately most of the tourists are Indians.

Ferruccio Crippa Saturday, 26 November 2022 03:32 PM

This dripping of SLDA news is a tragicomic thing ... on the one hand, I understand. They want to comfort and give hope to those who live on tourism, in reality they are saying "be quiet ... people we were in shit and we will still be for two years" ... When also in the next months, the top of the season of the West Coast (December-March), 40,000 people a month would arrive at 800000. Bingo !!! Has the tourism problem in SL been solved? No! And the East Coast that from 2019 to today can't even start a season rag? I don't care if some entrepreneur in the sector manages to survive by fortuitous coincidences (sic !!!). I'm worried about the sector's unemployment rate. It is a drama that involves the whole country. Not only the waiters and cleaning women suffer .... travel agencies, drivers, national parks, fishermen who do not sell fish without tourists ..... especially in small towns suffer. Yet all the statistics tell us about the losses of the 5stars Hotels

Ruwan Ramanayake Saturday, 26 November 2022 03:32 PM

Look at net earnings from tourism. Sri Lankan’s who travel on holiday and business to overseas destinations spend more via hard currency and Cards. We get budget tourists… The outflow from tourism is greater than the inflow…

Kathir Saturday, 26 November 2022 03:48 PM

Compare to Thailand and Malaysia thé hotel accommodation are very high in Sri Lanka and in Sri Lanka when we earn 100 US dollars 75 US dollars for Sri Lankan arm forces As loon as we maintain nearly 230000 men in the north. For security whatever the number of tourists arrive in Sri Lanka priority will be arm forces otherwise Ranil will run away like Gotta So there is no use of talking in vain these arrivals

Nuwan Saturday, 26 November 2022 04:49 PM

Oh well, it is a good news, but there seems to be no positive attitude towards it. Economy is all about sentiment. In Sri Lanka even those who are well off tend to complain. So the economy forever will be in this state. Meanwhile the black economy prevails making the crooks rich.

Sri Saturday, 26 November 2022 05:05 PM

Most stupid thing to increase visa fees and it is crazy thing to do right now ...why western people have many places to go free of charge... Maldives; and many other countries...some thing wrong in the minds of Sri Lankan politicians..

GHT Saturday, 26 November 2022 05:24 PM

You must stop Indian visitors visiting Sri Lanka, it will jam our culture and it will be a CULTURAL RUIN for Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans.

Hardcore tourist Saturday, 26 November 2022 05:53 PM

JUDGE: Spot on!!! 90 day-visas were already increased from € 52 to € 117 last year - now another increase. Many European long-term tourists now spend the winter months in Turkey, Bulgaria,etc. What a loss for Sri Lanka, as they are the ones who spend their money in the local communities, i.e. small businesses, food shops, markets, etc. In Turkey you can get a 2-months' holiday at a 4-star hotel, half board, and flight from as little as $ 750!!!

Silva Saturday, 26 November 2022 05:59 PM

Reply to @Judge: Absolutely true. If the country is in desperate need of tourists, they should not try to screw them if they are decide to come. Thats what happen. If they stay 6 months the ETA visa rate is alright but just for 2-3 weeks (which is the majority) it is too expensive. All national parks have increase 200-300%, also Sigiriya etc. You can't beg on one side to come and on the other immediately after they come start screwing them. This will backfire. All people which are making this kind of decisions are short minded and completely incompetent.

Hardcore tourist Saturday, 26 November 2022 06:09 PM

JUDGE: Spot on!!! 90 day-visas were already increased from € 52 to € 117 last year - now another increase. Many European long-term tourists now spend the winter months in Turkey, Bulgaria,etc. What a loss for Sri Lanka, as they are the ones who spend their money in the local communities, i.e. small businesses, food shops, markets, etc. In Turkey you can get a 2-months' holiday at a 4-star hotel, half board, and flight from as little as $ 750!!!

Ahmad Saturday, 26 November 2022 08:37 PM

with increased visa fee tourist arrival will reduce again.

Prasath Sunday, 27 November 2022 01:49 AM

Majority are visiting Sri Lankan expats they wont spend much, they will reside in relatives places. These are mere numbers to make it look nice

Klaus Sunday, 27 November 2022 01:12 PM

Alle Kommentare sind richtig und von Menschen mit Bildung und Interesse für ihr Land geschrieben. Das Parlament und der Präsident leben in einer anderen welt. ich bin viel an der Ostküste unterwegs und was sehe ich nur hässliches, neu Hotels in billigste Bauweise und immer größer sie wären auch als ausweich für die überlasten Gefängnisse geeignet. Der Präsident hat ein Haus in Bento am Strand. Direkt davor gehe ich mit den Hunden schwimmen. Der Strand und die Meister Hotels leer. Sieht das der Präsident nicht. Am Strand gibt es nichts zu kaufen, ob zu trinken oder zu esse. Es wirkt trostlos und langweilig. In Unawatuna ist es richtig, die Hotels sind zum Strand geöffnet und zum Lunch findet man keinen Platz mehr. Buddha segne die Einfältigen.

Klaus Sunday, 27 November 2022 01:44 PM

Letztens waren wir im Katarakt Hotel in Anugale. 5 Sterne. Der Pool war grün von Algen, die 2 whirlpools defekt. Die Zimmer weit entfernt vom Haupthaus. Entsetztlich langweilig . Mit uns 8-10 Gäste. Diese Hotel war vor Jahren ein gutes Hotel. Erster Besuch 1989. Jetzt eine teure Absteige. 1 Stern von uns.

Lanka Shantha Sunday, 27 November 2022 03:13 PM

I don't see any Tourists on the roads of Colombo.

Rajanagan Palanhottum Monday, 28 November 2022 02:26 AM

How many are backpackers who are DOLL dependents from their countries? Amuda Fernando is Great!!

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Tourist arrivals cross 600,000 mark

Comments - 24

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