Tourism Passes 1 Mn Mark in September

In September, Sri Lanka Tourism achieved a significant milestone as they surpassed the one million arrivals mark. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority had confidently predicted this achievement and the statistics didn’t disappoint.

By the end of August 2023, the island nation had already welcomed 927,214 visitors, greatly exceeding the total arrivals for the previous year, which stood at 719,978. The first six days of September saw an additional 22,896 tourists gracing the shores of this beautiful country. With these numbers in mind, it was only a matter of time before Sri Lanka officially crossed the one million arrivals threshold. The country’s ambitious target for the year was set at over 1.5 million arrivals, with an expected revenue of more than USD 2.55 billion. These figures reflect not only the resilience of Sri Lanka’s tourism sector but also the enduring allure of the island as a premier destination for travelers from across the globe. Luxury hotels in Polonnaruwa are amongst the most sought in the Cultural Triangle, with properties such as Hotel Sudu Araliya being quite busy throughout the year.