(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – The number of international tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka declined for the ninth straight month in December 2019 by 4.5 percent in comparison to a year ago while gradually recovering from the plunge following the Easter Sunday attacks in April this year.
According to the latest data from the Tourism Ministry, total number of international tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka in December 2019 declined by 4.5% with the arrival of 241,663 in the country. In comparison, 253,169 arrivals were recorded in December 2018.
However, tourist arrivals has been gradually rising following the suicide bomb attacks on churches and hotels in the country on Easter Sunday this year. Year-on-Year tourist arrivals declined 9.5% in November, 22.5% in October, 27.7% in September, 28% in August, 46% in July, 57% in June and 70.8% in May this year.
As at 31st December, 1,913,702of tourists had visited Sri Lanka in 2019. It is a decline of 18.0% from the 2,333,796 of tourists visited the country during the year 2018.
Europe and Asia & Pacific became the largest sources of tourist traffic to Sri Lanka both recording 88% (both 44%) of the total traffic received in December 2019. Americas accounted for 9% of the total traffic, Middle East 2% and Africa 1%.
India, United Kingdom, Russian Federation, China and Australia were Sri Lanka’s top five international tourist generating markets in the month of December this year.
India was the largest source of tourist traffic to Sri Lanka with 19% of the total traffic received in December 2019. UK accounted for 8% of the total traffic; while Russian Federation, China and Australia accounted for 7%, 7% and 6% respectively.
India, United Kingdom, China, Germany and Australia were Sri Lanka’s top five international tourist generating markets from January to December this year. India was again the largest source of tourist traffic to Sri Lanka with 19% of the total traffic received from January to December 2019. UK accounted for 10% of the total traffic; while China, Germany and Australia accounted for 9%, 7% and 5% respectively.
