The foreign tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka have continued their robust growth as in November, Sri Lanka received 184,158 tourists, marking a 35.5 pc increase from October and a 21.6 pc rise compared to November 2023.

In a press statement, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) says that by the end of the month, the total number of arrivals reached 1,804,873, reflecting a consistent recovery in the tourism sector. Despite a conservative target of 182,693 for November, the actual figures exceeded expectations, showcasing robust demand and a positive trend in the sector’s growth this year.

SLTDA says that India remained as the leading source market for tourists to Sri Lanka, accounting for 24 pc of total arrivals. It was followed by the Russia at 17 pc, the United Kingdom and Germany at 7 pc each and China at 5 pc.

According to the statement, these statistics highlight changing travel patterns, with a significant rise in visitors from emerging markets like Poland and renewed interest from established markets such as France and Spain compared to the previous year. The growing prominence of markets like France signals evolving trends in Sri Lanka’s tourism landscape, offering opportunities to broaden and diversify its visitor base, says the tourism body.

SLTDA says that Europe has become a dominant force in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, accounting for 52.7 pc of total visitors, while Asia and the Pacific follow closely with 40.9 pc of arrivals. This shift underscores the changing dynamics within the sector, with both regions playing key roles in driving growth. The rise in demand from key markets such as the Russian Federation, the UK, Germany, and France has significantly supported Sri Lanka’s tourism, aided by strong travel connections and favorable conditions.

In contrast, the Americas represent 4.4 pc of arrivals, while the Middle East and Africa contribute 1.4 pc and 0.6 pc, respectively, enriching the diversity of the tourism landscape.

Cumulatively, from January to November this year, Sri Lanka saw a significant rise in tourist arrivals from India, the Russian Federation, the UK, China, and Germany, solidifying these countries as the top five international visitor markets. Additionally, visitor numbers from the Netherlands and France showed notable growth, highlighting Sri Lanka’s growing popularity in these regions.

Shares of various countries in tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka in November 2024 (Source: SLTDA)

With 364,093 visitors, the Indian market accounted for 20.2 pc of the total arrivals so far this year. The number of Indian visitors has risen by almost 41 pc from the first 11 months of last year when the total number of Indian tourists in Sri Lanka was 258,871. With 166,652 visitors, Russia was the second largest source market for the year, a marginal decline from 167,841 last year. The United Kingdom was the third largest, followed by China and Germany. However, the Chinese market has been the fastest growing market for Sri Lanka this year registering a blistering growth rate of 87 pc.

SLTDA says that an analysis of the purposes behind tourist visits from key markets reveals that leisure is the primary motivator for visiting Sri Lanka. Among Indian tourists, 47.19 pc came for pleasure, while 9.7 pc visited for MICE purposes. For UK tourists, 14.36 pc came for VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives), and 67.9 pc travelled for pleasure or vacation. Polish visitors showed a preference for MICE activities, with 14.62 pc citing this reason.