Tourist arrivals on steady rise

The number of tourist arrivals from Januray to May this year rose 18.2 percent to 3, 87, 622 compared to 3, 27, 902 during the corresponding period last year, Sri Lanka Tourism Research Division data revealed.

The number of visitors during May this year increased by 17.5 percent to 57, 506 as against 48, 943 in the corresponding month last year.

Tourist arrivals reached a double digit growth on the month-on-month basis this year compared to 2011, according to statistics. Visitors in January rose 15.7 percent to 85, 874, Ferbruary 27 percent to

83, 549 and March 21.3 percent to 91,102 compared to 74, 197, 65, 797 and 75, 130 notched during the corresponding months of 2011.

Arrivals from the Latin American and the Caribbean region recorded 50.8 percent growth,the highest among regions for the second consecutiove time.

Despite a 16 percent dip in the last month, arrivals from the region have shown a marked increase this year.

The number of visitors in May was 692 compared to 459 recorded in the corresponding month last year.

The next highest growth percentage was recorded in the African region with a 45.6 percent increase to 1,656 in comparison to 1,137 notched during the first five months in 2011. The growth in May was 84.9 percent with 257 visitors compared to 139 in May last year.

Traditional markets such as Eastern and Western Europe recorded 43.4 percent and 20 percent gorwth while arrivals from non traditional markets such as East Asia, North America, the Middle East and Australia recorded 38.3, 18.9, 14 and 12.8 percent growth. Arrivals, from South Asia which is a potential market recorded a marginal growht of 3.8 percent and a 1.7 percent decline from Pakistan. Arrivals from India and Maldives recorded a 4.1 percent and 4.9 pertcent growth up to May this year.

Sri Lanka Tourism targets over one million arrivals by end of this year and envisages 2.5 million visitors by 2016. The number of arrivals last year was 8,55, 975.

"Sri Lanka Tourism is confident of wooing one million visitors this year with the number of arrivals for the first five months this year surpassing last year's figures", Sri Lanka Tourism Research Division sources said. Sri Lanka attracts a less number of tourists compared to many countries in the region which woos over two million tourists annually.

However, Sri Lanka Tourism is gearing to entice more visitors with an adequate number of hotel rooms and skilled personnel.

Hotel occupancy rates have declined this month due to it being the off-season but it is expected to revive with the Kandy perahera, held in August, tourism industry sources said.

LF