Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka are likely to surpass the 100,000 mark in May, but will fall short of the target set by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) of 120,934 to 131,112 arrivals.
Provisional data released by the SLTDA showed tourist arrivals reaching 79,431 in the first three weeks of the month (from May 1 to May 21), compared to 83,309 arrivals recorded in May last year. The daily arrival average stands at about 3,782, a drop from the 5,000 level experienced in previous months.
Tourist influx remains low from April until the summer season, as this period is considered off-peak. Authorities also noted that a recent visa issue may have contributed to the drop in arrivals this month.
India emerged as the largest source of tourist traffic, accounting for 26 percent of the total arrivals. The Maldives ranked second, contributing 11 percent of the arrivals.
Russia, which previously held one of the top two spots in tourist arrivals, has fallen to seventh position in May. According to industry stakeholders, Russian charter flights that previously flew to Mattala International Airport have opted for other destinations this summer due to increased hotel room prices and landing charges.
Germany climbed to third position, accounting for 8 percent of total arrivals, followed by the United Kingdom at 7 percent. China now ranks among the top five markets, contributing 6 percent to the total arrivals and ranking fifth for May so far.
