Sri Lanka Tourism’s strategic promotional efforts have borne fruit, as the country has achieved its full year tourist arrival numbers from 2023 within the first nine months of 2024, Sri Lanka Tourism said in a statement.
As of September 2024, the total tourist arrivals reached 1,487,303, surpassing last year’s total. September alone saw 112,140 arrivals, marking a 9% growth year-on-year.
India, China, the UK, Germany, Australia, the Maldives, Russia, Bangladesh, Spain, and France were among the top source markets contributing to this growth.
This success is attributed to several key initiatives, notably the “Seen is Believing” influencer campaign, which involved hosting around 180 global media influencers. These influencers, including culinary vlogger Luke Martin, Nas Daily’s Nusier Yassin, and Bollywood actor Ashish Vidyarthi, helped spread a positive message about the island nation’s unique offerings and its recovery from recent challenges.
The tourism revival was also buoyed by the recommencement of major airlines, many of which increased their flight frequency and seat capacity, signalling renewed confidence in the destination. In addition, Sri Lanka Tourism launched the “Check in…. Sri Lanka is ready” digital campaign, aiming to attract prospective travellers through short-term online promotions.
Sri Lanka’s participation in prominent international travel fairs such as ITB Berlin, IFTM Paris, ATM Dubai, WTM UK, and SATTE India also played a crucial role in boosting its visibility in key markets.
The year saw the country garnering over 17 global recognitions, including the Pekoe Trail being named one of the world’s best by National Geographic, Forbes listing Sri Lanka as the fourth most popular travel destination for 2024, and CEO World magazine ranking it as one of the best countries to visit in a lifetime.
Sri Lanka Tourism continues to position itself under three pillars—“Compact,” “Diverse,” and “Authentic”—to differentiate the destination and attract more visitors to its shores. (NewsWire)
