Sri Lanka generates over $2bn from tourism in 2024

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has generated over $2 billion from tourism in the first eight months of 2024, according to the latest data from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).

The CBSL reports that the country earned $2.17 billion during this period, marking a 66.1% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Tourist arrivals also rose by 50.7%, with 1.36 million tourists visiting in the first eight months of 2024.

In August 2024 alone, there were 164,609 arrivals, representing an approximately 20% increase compared to August 2023.

Tourism remains one of Sri Lanka's leading sources of foreign revenue. Authorities are anticipating 3 million foreign tourists in 2025, according to Nalin Perera, Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

By RSS/Xinhua