Sri Lanka tourist arrivals expected to top 1.5 million in 2023 – The destination has a great start to Septemeber

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is on the path to a remarkable recovery. On September 26th, the country celebrated the arrival of its one-millionth tourist for the year, surpassing its initial targets. Priyantha Fernando, Chairman of Sri Lanka’s Tourism Development Authority, announced during an event marking World Tourism Day that the country is ahead of its targets and is ready to welcome over 1.5 million tourists in 2023. In light of the strong first-quarter arrivals, there were discussions in April 2023 about revising the year-end target to 2.0 million tourists.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization reported that international tourism worldwide had reached 80% of pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2023. This recovery trend has been reflected in Sri Lanka’s data, with 75,222 tourists welcomed in the first 20 days of September. This resurgence is a promising sign for the country’s tourism industry, indicating its steady return to pre-pandemic levels.

The rise of tourists has positively impacted Sri Lanka’s coastal destinations, with numerous renowned beachfront properties such as Ayurvie Weligama offering access to many interesting things to do in Weligama, experiencing an upturn in activity as they contribute to the country’s tourism revival.