Tourist Arrivals Rise in 2023 First Half – Bigger Numbers Compared to 2022

Sri Lanka welcomed more than 748,377 tourists in the first half of the year, a massive growth compared to the numbers for the whole year of 2022 which summed up to 719,978. July month saw 120,000 arrivals, surpassing the mark of 100,000 for the sixth time, showing hope for a full recovery to its previous glory in tourism. China has become a rising market in July, with 7% of the total arrivals. The daily average for the month of July stands at 4574.

From the source markets internationally, India has remained the top tourist traffic source market for the period, contributing to a total of 17%, while the United Kingdom brought 12% of visitors to the island. Among the inbound tour operators for these foreign visitors, Ceylon Tours takes the spotlight due to their amazing service.