Tourist arrivals pass 100,000 mark for second successive month

Tourist arrivals for the second month in succession went pass the 100,000 market with February recording 107,639 arrivals. The January arrival figure was 102,545 .

This was 96,507 in February 2022 showing an increase of over 11% as against the second month of previous year. For the third successive month Russia became the top source market for Sri Lanka accounting for 29,084 arrivals showing an increase of 27% as against February 2022. India followed with 13,714 arrivals which also was an increase of 13%as against the previous year February.

Thin third and fourth source markets for Sri Lanka tourism were United Kingdom 8,575 and Germany 7,930 both showing around 7.5% increase against previous February. A third Russian airline is expected to touch the Mattala International Airport from next month while two new Chinese airlines too are expected to fly to Sri Lanka from March kick starting Chinese Tourism which is still not among the top 10. Prior to the pandemic China and India were top two tourism feeder markets to Sri Lanka.

The Indian based Vistatra airline too will be launching direct flights to Sri Lanka while Fits Air too will extend their thrice weekly flights to daily and this too will further increase Indian arrivals. Srilankan too will increase frequency to Indian destinations.