Sri Lanka‘s tourism sector soared to new heights in 2023, surpassing the USD 2 billion milestone in earnings and witnessing a remarkable surge in Indian visitors. As Sri Lanka emerges as a premier tourist destination, the island nation’s strategic partnership with India remains pivotal in driving mutual prosperity and cultural exchange through tourism.The recent conclusion of Sri Lanka Tourism‘s inaugural Business Networking event for 2024 in India, held in Mumbai and Delhi, served as a testament to the robust growth and resilience of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. The events, attended by over 300 participants including industry leaders, travel agents, and industry stakeholders, underscored the shared commitment to fostering stronger ties between Sri Lanka and India in the tourism sector.
Highlighting the surge in Indian tourists visiting Sri Lanka, the events celebrated the doubling of Indian visitors from 13,759 in January of the previous year to 34,399 in January 2024. This exponential growth was attributed to enhanced connectivity between the two countries, with 95 flights connecting Sri Lanka to nine Indian cities, ensuring seamless travel experiences and smooth transactions facilitated by India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Addressing the audience at the Mumbai event, Harin Fernando, Sri Lanka’s Minister for Tourism, Lands, Sports, and Youth Affairs, expressed gratitude to India for its steadfast support in Sri Lanka’s tourism development journey. Minister Fernando highlighted Sri Lanka’s remarkable economic transformation and ambitious goal of attracting 2.5 million tourists in 2024, buoyed by the strong momentum witnessed in early 2024 with over 48,000 tourist arrivals in the first six days of February.
Reflecting on the enduring partnership between Sri Lanka and India, Kshenuka Senewiratne, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, emphasised the need for enhanced cooperation and connectivity between the two nations. Recent discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ranil Wickremesinghe underscored the strength of the partnership, with India’s support instrumental during economic challenges.
Sri Lanka has rolled out infrastructure development projects and innovative tourism promotion programmes in a bid to attract high-end tourists, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said. During the tour, the President Ranil Wickremesinghe visited several tourist hotels, talking with owners to understand their challenges first hand, the PMD added.
Dr Valsan Kumaran Vethody, the Consul General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai, stressed the importance of people-to-people connectivity in strengthening bilateral relations. With tourism serving as a bridge between cultures, Dr Vethody highlighted the potential for deeper collaboration in the tourism sector to fully harness the economic value of India’s vast tourism market.Looking ahead, Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is poised for continued growth and innovation, with ambitious targets set for tourist arrivals and plans for new infrastructure. Initiatives to promote sustainable tourism practices and preserve cultural heritage underscore Sri Lanka’s commitment to long-term industry success.
