Securing the top spot in best travel destination list, Sri Lanka just managed to increase earnings from tourism marginally during the first four months this year despite the recent Easter Sunday attacks.
Earnings from tourism increased marginally by 2.2 per cent to US$ 1,704 million during this period with 2.2 percent increase in tourist arrivals.
The island nation secured the top spot in the Lonely Planet’s best travel destinations list of countries to visit in 2019 even after the recent Easter terror devastation..
Earnings from tourism increased marginally by 2.2 per cent to US$ 1,704 million in the first four months of 2019 partly due to the decline in earnings from tourism in April 2019 with the impact of Easter Sunday attacks.
Tourist arrivals increased by 2.2 per cent to 907,575 persons at end April 2019 from 888,353 persons at end April 2018.
However, tourist arrivals in the month of April 2019 declined by 7.5 per cent to 166,975 persons from 180,429 persons in April 2018
The country has been upset, but continues to be an incredible place to visit and it still tops our Best in Travel for 2019, Lonely Planet Writer Caterina Hrysomallis said in her latest blog post.
Emergency security measures have been imposed, but flights to Colombo are operating as normal.
“Sri Lanka is decidedly having its moment in the equatorial sun and change is coming swiftly,” the Lonely Planet noted.
“Already notable to intrepid travellers for its mix of religions and cultures, its timeless temples, its rich and accessible wildlife, its growing surf scene and its people who defy all odds by their welcome and friendliness after decades of civil conflict, this is a country revived,”it said.
In October last year, Sri Lanka has placed number one among the Lonely Planet’s top 10 countries to visit in 2019.
(LI)