Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB ) with the support of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB), marked a milestone in its tourist arrivals by receiving 624,874 tourist arrivals by the end of June this year. This is a significant increase when compared with the number of tourist arrivals received for the year 2022. The total number of tourist arrivals received up to December last year (2022) was 719,978. Due to the continuous promotional efforts and marketing campaigns, Sri Lanka Tourism, as the National Tourism Organization, has been able to get back to business and encourage more tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka from all parts of the world, despite all the challenges it had to face during the Covid Pandemic and the Economic crisis. India established itself as the most important source market by bringing in the highest number of arrivals to Sri Lanka. The other source markets such as the UK, Russia, Australia, China, Germany, Canada, Maldives, United States, and France also made an impact on the arrivals up to June this year.
It has been a long journey for Sri Lanka Tourism throughout the years but nevertheless, it has bounced back by welcoming a large number of tourist arrivals consisting of an average of 100,000 per month. This is due to the continuous promotional activities of SLTPB, in collaboration with the SLTDA and SLCB who have given their tremendous support. Up to the end of May 2023 Sri Lanka Tourism has generated an income of USD752 mn, thereby actively contributing to the Economy. Sri Lanka Tourism also briefed the media and Industry recently regarding its achievements and progress made during the past year and its plans for the future. Sri Lanka Tourism participated in several Mainstream trade fairs such as the ATM Dubai, ITB Berlin, MITT Russia, SATTE India, and GITF China, and also organized roadshows in major cities in India and China. SLTPB plans to participate in the upcoming IFTM in Paris, and WTM in the UK during the year. As the leading promotional arm of Sri Lanka Tourism, SLTPB has several plans to carry out this year, including a one-year global campaign targeting key markets, also a domestic campaign to encourage the 22 million Sri Lankans to welcome visitors from around the world.
Sri Lanka Tourism has also been seeking the support of celebrities, travel influencers, and bloggers through the visiting Journalist and Blogger Program of the SLTPB, and also promoting Sri Lanka as a film tourism destination.
Another important initiative of Sri Lanka Tourism is to improve the infrastructure facilities of Sri Lankan tourist locations, and also upgrade all the tourist hotels, also introduce new tourist attractions in the long run.
Harin Fernando, Minister of Tourism, said, “The rapid increase in Tourist arrivals has shown that Sri Lanka has bounced back to normalcy, and once again regaining its place as one of the best travel destinations in the world. The sustained growth in tourist arrivals reflects the successful efforts. Sri Lanka is a resilient nation, and I strongly believe that by the end of this year, we will be able to reach our target of 2 million tourists and spread a positive message about Sri Lanka through our promotional campaigns’’.
Reflecting on the increase in Tourist arrivals, Mr. Chalaka Gajabahu, Chairman of, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB ), said that several initiatives are in the pipeline for a more productive and dynamic 360 marketing approach which will include a Global Campaign, by appointing a creative agency and a digital agency, along with the diaspora campaign targeting Sri Lankans living overseas to support Sri Lanka Tourism’s international promotional campaigns and domestic promotional campaign, to encourage our 22 million Sri Lankans to welcome foreign visitors to the country.
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