ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has welcomed 59,759 tourists in November 2022 official data showed the highest since April 2022 as arrivals continued to improve, but hoteliers say the country is likely to fall short of an 800,000 target.
Up to November 628,000 tourists have visited the country.
The November number is the highest since 62,980 recorded in April.
In March 106,500 tourists came to the country when as the currency collapsed in the worst monetary meltdown in the history of the island’s central bank after macro-economists printed money for two years to suppress rates.
November’s 59,759 tourists were led by 13,820 Russians, 10,167 Indians and 5,169 Germans.
Sri Lanka’s Tourism Development Board said arrivals increased as many airlines resumed their winter operations to Sri Lanka.
Arrival of cruise ships for the first time since the Coronavirus pandemic was also helping.
Vikingmas, a Norwegian ship, arrived in Colombo Port on November 18 carrying 700 tourists and 450 crew members. On November 29, German luxury cruiser Mein Schiff 5″ carried 2,000 passengers.
So far Sri Lanka has welcomed a total of 628,017 tourists and it targeted to get 800,000 tourists for 2022.
However, some hoteliers have said those numbers are unlikely to be achieved due to an energy and inflation crisis in European markets.
SLTB officials said they might see a 10-20 increase in arrivals in December.
Sri Lanka was hopeful to attract travelers from the European and the American market for the winter season especially long-haul holiday-makers.
But European markets are going through an energy crisis and high inflation, after the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank printed money. (Colombo/Dec02/2022)