Tourists’ Optimism in Sri Lanka – By Dr harold Gunatillake
Website: www.Doctorharold.com
Sri Lanka, in this brief video, emphasises the excellent future for the tourists visiting this island, making this island the most sorted country for visitors to be the number one spot on the planet.
Tourists arrived in Sri Lanka in October from the 1st till the 22nd at 42,026 last year.
This year, for October from the 1-22nd, the number is 77,763. Total arrivals this year so far is 1,094,019 compared to the previous year’s figures- 719,978.
In 2019, before the COVID-19 endemic, it was reported that 1.9 million visitors arrived in
Sri Lanka. It is a 21 per cent decrease from 2018, following the Easter Terror Attacks of April 2019. It’s recorded that the industry earned around $3.5 billion in 2019.
These statistics are extracted from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals are expected to top 1.5 million in 2023, Chairman of Sri Lanka’s Tourism Development Authority Priyantha Fernando said. Presently, over 1000 tourists have visited the country.
The latest statistics from the central bank show that for the first time since the pandemic hit, tourism earnings during the first three months of 2023 crossed the
$500 million mark, reaching $529 million.
On one of my recent visits, I spoke with many European tourists, which made them visit Sri Lanka in Ella. They were not keen to be interviewed, but they said this.
Some said it was the most beautiful island they had ever been to, and the people were friendly and helpful.
One said that we loved Mirissa Beech and whale watching, which gave us an incredible thrill during our visit.
It’s important to note that Mirissa is a small town along the southern coast of Sri Lanka and has become a world-renowned destination for an excellent whale- watching experience. It is a coastal paradise and has become a must-visit location for wildlife junks and adventurers.
Whales are the most majestic marine creatures in the world in their natural habitat, the sea. Mirissa is one spot where you can watch these creatures and their movements, giving a thrilling experience.
The blue whale is the largest animal ever on Earth, and the sperm whale is famous for its deep sea dives. They weigh over 200 tons, twice the size of the giant dinosaur.
Arugambay is another tourist attraction; of course, it is seasonal, as the whole area gets flooded during the rainy season. The bay is located 320 km east of Colombo. It is a popular surfing and tourist destination. It is a surfer’s paradise.
Most tourists seem to end up in Ella and spend months there.
Some places you could see in Ella are the Ella Gap, Ravana Ella Falls, Little Adam’s Peak, and Bambaragala Peak, among many other varied pleasant walks with stunning scenery. Also, Ella is the incredible beauty of the nine-arch bridge, and the train slows down the speed for both tourists in the train and the outside watchers greeting each other from distances.
There are so many attractive sightseeing spots in Sri Lanka that it is impossible to depict in this video.
Sri Lanka provides vibrant attractions, including beaches, wildlife reserves, mountains and trekking, tea plantations, ancient cultural ruins, Buddhist religious sites, and festivals.
Sri Lanka is ranked 77 out of 141 nations by the World Economic Forum study in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019. Most tourists arrive from India and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The UK, Russia, Germany, and France followed them.
How Sri Lankan tourism can be improved!
The country needs to invest in improving its transportation system, including roads, railways, and airports, to make it easier for tourists to travel around the country.
Additionally, the government must incentivise private investors to build hotels and other tourism-related infrastructure.
I wish to impress on you that over 1000 tourists have been in this country this year, and before the end of the year, they will reach the 1,500 mark.
By 2025, it is hoped that Sri Lanka will be identified as a place for memorable, authentic, and diverse tourism experiences. In Sri Lanka, tourism is the economy’s third largest export earner after remittances, textiles, and garments.
Be proud to be Sri Lankan as much as I am. Always promote this country, your country of birth, to your non-Sri Lankan friends abroad; this is the best destination to visit.
Thank you for watching this video clip; stay safe, and goodbye for now.
