Post-COVID tourist arrivals hit all-time high in October
Tourist arrivals have hit a post-COVID all-time high of 22,771 in October, propelling the cumulative figure to over 60,000.
Arrivals last month reflect a sharp 68% increase from
September, largely influenced by the eased travel restrictions, aggressive
tourism promotions, services by more airlines, successful vaccination program
and growing consumer confidence.
Arrivals in the first 10 months were 60,695 — a major
development since the reopening of borders on 21 January, but down by 96% from
corresponding period of last year.
In October, the largest source markets were India (8,406),
the UK (2,241) and Pakistan (2,042), followed by Russia (1,328) and Germany
(1,196), Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) provisional data
showed.
During January to October, India became the largest source
of tourists to Sri Lanka with 18,466 in the first 10 months, followed by the UK
with 4,383, Germany 3,900, Kazakhstan 3,207 and Ukraine 2,910.
Following the lifting of the ban, the National Carrier
SriLankan Airlines too resumed passenger flights to India and extended its
innovative ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ air ticket offer.
Ahead of the winter season and a one-year break from
physical engagement at global trade fairs, Sri Lanka Tourism took part in a
series of promotional activities at top travel events in France and the UK. The
first of the promotional campaigns was the International French Travel Mart
(IFTM) Top Resa in Paris last month, followed by World Travel Mart (WTM) in
London, which kicked off yesterday.
As per Sri Lanka Tourism, fully vaccinated tourists can now
stay at any type of accommodation without an on-arrival PCR test and they can
enjoy a ‘flexible bio-bubble’ with all facilities of the hotels made available,
while being allowed to visit approved tourist sites. They are also exempted
from obtaining the mandatory COVID-19 local insurance cover, subject to
comprehensive travel insurance that will cover health and other expenses
related to COVID.
Resumption of flights by SriLankan Airlines over the weekend to Paris following a five-year gap was seen as an added bonus to revive the battered-tourism industry.
In addition, the Government recently approved five new
airlines to operate into Sri Lanka which include Edelweiss, Aeroflot and Air
France that will start this month, whilst Russia’s Air Azus and Italy’s Nyos
Air will start operations in December.
For the last 18 months, Sri Lanka had observed strict
quarantine measures for travellers and a series of lockdowns to control the
COVID-19 pandemic. These measures have been extremely hard-hitting for all
tourism industry stakeholders, including nearly three million dependents due to
the twin crises of the Easter Sunday attacks and COVID-19.
With a view to further relax the entry rules and make Sri
Lanka more attractive to international travellers, the Government decided to
resume the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for fully vaccinated
international travellers from October.
The Health Ministry said over 13 million Sri Lankan citizens
had received both doses of their vaccine against COVID-19.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is of the view that the tourism
industry must gradually be opened up with lesser restrictions for international
travellers along with the aggressive vaccination drive, as it is a key foreign
exchange earning sector for the economy.
“With the easing of travel restrictions, there is a growing
interest from global travellers to visit the country,” Tourism Minister
Prasanna Ranatunga said.
Sri Lanka has lost around $ 10 billion in foreign exchange
earnings due to the pandemic since early last year.
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