Tourism earnings top USD 331.7 Mn-by Mahinda Aluthgedara

The tourism industry has succeeded in earning an income of Rs.102 billion (US Dollars 331.7 million) during the first two months of this year boosting the economy of the country. The Central Bank (CB) sources said that it is an increase of 3.3 percent when compared to the earnings from tourism during the first two months of 2022, which was US Dollars 321.1 million.

The income from the tourism industry in February of this year is recorded as US Dollars 169.9 million and the overall earnings from tourism during 2022 was US Dollars 1136.3 million. This amount in 2021 was recorded as US Dollars 506.9 million.

These statistics are based on a report issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the number of tourist arrivals during the first two months of this year amounted to 210,184 and in January the figure was 102,545 while in February there had been 107,639 tourist arrivals.

The Authority pointed out further that in the year 2022, the number of tourist arrivals recorded was 719,978. When considering the month of February this year, the greatest number of tourists to arrive had been recorded from Russia and that was approximately 29,084.

In addition tourist arrivals from India, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Canada, The United States of America, Israel and the Maldives Islands have recorded the highest number of tourist arrivals.