Sri Lanka Recorded Over 700,000 Arrivals in 2022 – Target for 2023 Set At 1.55 Million

Sri Lanka tourism is slowly but steadily getting back on track since the pandemic and tourists from around the world are once more eagerly heading to this Indian Ocean island nation. With COVID-19-related restrictions being eased last year, the country recorded 719,978 international visitors by the end of 2022 and met the expected earnings goal of $ 1.2 billion. The prospects for this year are even better with a target of 1.55 million visitors and $ 2.88 billion in tourism earnings.

2023 has already gotten off to a great start in terms of tourism with January recording over 100,000 arrivals for the first time in nine months. The upward trend continued with Sri Lanka welcoming 78,340 international travellers in the first twenty days of February which was an increase of 12.4% when compared to the same period in 2022. At the time, Russia was the top contributing source market followed by India and the UK respectively. Such tourists have much to look forward to from the sun-kissed south coast to misty mountains home to some of the key places to visit in Nuwara Eliya; set amidst idyllic natural beauty, colonial buildings and tea estates, this destination also features properties like Araliya Red which offer safe accommodation and a chance to experience the best of the region.