Tourism In Sri Lanka – Slashed Rates Await Tourists

Dambulla Cave Temple, Sri Lanka. Image by lapping from Pixabay

Indian, the USA and the UK issued travel advisories after the blasts in Sri Lanka
Hotels and Sri Lankan airlines offer heavy discounts
Bookings beginning to increase for the winter season

Tourism plays an important role in the Sri Lankan economy. However, given the recent bombing, tourist arrivals in the country have dropped.

After the attacks, a number of countries including India, the USA, and the UK issued travel advisories for Sri Lanka.

The industry is now wooing visitors back with promotions and reduced hotel rates. Let’s see how tourism in Sri Lanka is coping.

Dambulla Cave Temple, Sri Lanka. Image by lapping from Pixabay

Tourism In Sri Lanka Over the Years

The Ceylon Tourist Board was established by the Sri Lankan government in 1966. Promotional activities by this board led to the rapid expansion of tourism in the country.

Some of the major attractions promoted include the historical city of Kandy, the city of Anuradhapura, tea plantations and the Sri Lanka mountain ranges.

Tourism in Sri Lanka has not seen an even growth pattern. The civil conflict that started in 1983 had an adverse effect on tourism and brought down year on year arrivals by 43%.

The numbers continued to drop till 1990. Since then the numbers have fluctuated but shown an overall increase. In 2018, Sri Lanka welcomed 2,333,796 tourists.

Years	Tourist Arrivals
1973	77,888
1978	192,592
1983	337,530
1988	182,662
1993	392,250
1998	381,063
2003	500,642
2008	438,475
2013	1,274,593
2018	2,333,796

Tourism In Sri Lanka – Promotions

Key markets such as Russia are being flooded with promotions and slashes hotel rates. The country is also hosting international sporting events. The government-owned Sri Lankan airline is offering special discounted fares in a joint promotion with the country’s tourism board.

Hotels such as the Lavanga Resort & Spa in Hikkaduwa are offering discounts of more than 50%.

Rooms that would earlier cost $75, are now available at $35 with a complimentary breakfast.

Tourism In Sri Lanka – How The Industry Is Recovering

As a result of the promotions in place, hotels are now beginning to see bookings bounce back. The average number of international tourists in Sri Lanka has increased from 1000 just after the attacks to between 1400 and 1500.