Sri Lanka Tourism has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 1.5 million tourist arrivals so far in 2024. Over 20,000 visitors were welcomed during the first week of October, signaling a positive start to the final quarter of the year.

This marks the highest number of arrivals recorded since the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. While the country received a record 2.33 million tourists in 2018, it has been gradually recovering since then.

Industry leaders have expressed optimism, particularly after the restoration of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system on 26 September. The reinstatement of the ETA has contributed to a noticeable increase in arrivals. “We have seen an improvement and hope this trend continues for a strong winter season,” commented industry stakeholders.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) expects 155,070 arrivals for the month of October alone. With ambitious goals for 2024, Sri Lanka aims to attract 2.3 million tourists and generate over $4 billion in foreign exchange revenue.