Sri Lanka's Tourism sector achieves US$ 4.4 billion revenue target

Jan 19, Colombo: Sri Lanka has earned over US$ 4.4 billion from tourism this year with revenue steadily increased by 11.6 percent compared to 2017, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said.

According to the SLTDA, the data suggests that an average duration of stay per person is 11 days in Sri Lanka while average expenditure is approximately 2000 U.S dollars.

The Industry expectations for 2019 are 3 million tourist arrivals and revenue of 5 billion U.S dollars with lonely planet naming Sri Lanka as the Number one destination to travel in 2019.

India, China, and Britain have managed to remain as the leading markets throughout the year in 2018 as well.

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Sri Lanka is going all out to woo Indian tourists

Sri Lanka has seen a record number of Indian tourists visit the island nation. Last year, it clocked in 3.84 lakh Indian travellers. This year, they are looking to lure even more visitors. This is what tourists can expect.

Sri Lanka is expecting a healthy growth in the number of Indian tourists arrivals this year, as the island nation is out to woo travellers even from smaller cities. Sri Lanka has seen a substantial growth in tourist arrivals from India last year, with over 3.84 lakh travellers. Currently, India is the number one country in terms of tourist arrivals, followed by China, UK and Germany. Some of the most popular destinations in Sri Lanka include Kandy, Colombo and Bentota.

“However, this year we are targeting 4.50 lakh tourists from India,” said Viranga Bandara, Assistant Director-Marketing, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. “We mainly get tourists from the metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai... those are the main tourism-generating hubs for Sri Lanka tourism. But we are also targeting smaller cities,” he said.

Upekkha Samaratunga, Minister (Commercial), Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi, said that according to Sri Lanka tourism statistics, India ranks number one in terms of inward traffic to the island nation. “We look forward to travellers from India throughout the year, irrespective of the season. Most Indians like to travel short distances on a competitive budget. In that scenario, Sri Lanka has become popular. However, we are also targeting the high-end tourists from various parts of India, including Chandigarh and neighbouring towns like Ludhiana,” said Samaratunga.

About Sri Lankan food, she said that there is a lot of similarity in their cuisine and what is found in parts of south India. “We use a lot of coconut in our preparations, like it is used in south India. Sri Lankan cinnamon, pepper and other products are also quite popular among Indians. Through tourism, we can expand our trade relations, as India is our key trading partner,” she further said.

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Boat Show and Boating Festival Sri Lanka 2018

Sri Lanka Online Visa

Boat Show & Boating Festival Sri Lanka 2018 is organized by Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute (BTI) and Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in association with Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade, Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Ministry of Ports and Shipping at Galle Yacht Marina, Port of Galle.

To provide a single platform for all related business sectors involved directly and indirectly in the boat and ship building industry and nautical tourism sector to display and promote their respective sectors for potential international and local clients and giving initiation for the leisure boating culture to the Sri Lanka.

South Asia’s most focused and largest international Boat Show and Boating Festival Sri Lanka 2018 will be held from 26th to 28th October 2018 at the Galle Yacht Marina of the Port of Galle. This event will be the first ever marine festival in Sri Lanka organized to show case the country’s capabilities in recreational boating and yachting, nautical tourism, boat building and related services for export and local markets. To attract the younger age groups towards boating, in addition to the boat and ship building sector, water sports events geared to the younger generation including wake boarding, water skiing, jet ski racing, wind surfing, catamaran and dinghy racing, try a boat event run by sailing clubs, fashion show linked to a nautical theme, fishing events and demonstrations, music (various bands), F and B court, classic car rally and display, Sri Lanka cultural display especially those linked to the sea, events for school children, nautical tourism, ocean academy, Sun & Sand Festival etc. will be added. Following the success of Boat Show Sri Lanka 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, & 2016 the upcoming boating festival will attract large number of buyers and visitors, boating enthusiasts, and industry professionals from countries such as India, Singapore, Seychelles, Maldives, South Korea, Belgium, Middle East, Germany, Holland, UK etc.

The Boat Show and Boating Festival Sri Lanka 2018 will be organized by Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute Lanka (gte) Limited (BTI) and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board in association with Ministry of Development Strategies & International Trade, Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Ministry of Ports and Shipping (Sri Lanka Ports Authority).

The Boat Show & Boating Festival Sri Lanka 2018 will be organized at Galle Yacht Marina, Port of Galle from 26th to 28th October 2018, with the objective of providing a single platform for all related business sectors involved directly and indirectly in the boat and ship building industry and fisheries sector to display and promote their respective sectors for potential clients. The total number of stalls in this year is around 80.

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what is the significance of srilanka tourist visa

For traveling through the amazing place of Sri-Lanka, you need to apply for a Sri lanka travel visa and this visa gives the legitimacy of two days' stay that too at free charges. But it is essential for you to carry your documentary proof.

Travellers who convey certain travel permits don't need to worry over getting a travel visa. For a suspicion, let us accept that for a brief, holders of Sri-Lankan identification couldn't get ready to clear through any European nation without having any substantial Transit Visa. At that point for this situation, the carriers would simply deny boarding. Traveling through Sri Lanka implies that an individual need to convey a Sri-Lankan online travel visa and through an online framework it can be done to effortlessly. The Sri-Lankan ETA encourages official approval for visits up to 30 days and is issued online. Individuals who needed to accept here and now visits must acquire an ETA going before to their landing in Sri Lanka.

Even more significantly ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) was confined by the Sri-Lankan government on first January 2012 to fortify lawful movement in their own particular nation.

The point which must be made notice is that it has been made necessary for non Sri-Lankans to convey Sri-Lankan online tourist visa.

• Essentially to decrease the worry of visitors who get bothered because of the deferral in grant of visa to investigate the island country of Sri-Lanka.

• Besides, the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Colombo, has rearranged and given the online administrations of filling ETA application structures to the vacationers.

• Tourists can apply online for Sri Lanka ETA which is completely electronic processing online submission and the approval for the same (authority to enter Sri Lanka) will be communicated via email.

sri lanka electronic travel authorization

Srilanka is one of the best top tourist destination place with awesome landscapes, antiquated sanctuaries, and entrancing Buddha statues. To visit the place apply for Srilanka ETA visa by filling the application form online and the visa will be sent to you by means of email. The eTA Sri Lanka visa is accessible for tourists from India and most part of Europe.

To apply for visa click here 

Take Flights to Sri Lanka and Enjoy Outstanding Summer in Trendy Beaches!

Looking for tropical paradise for beautiful and memorable holidays? There can be no other better place than Sri Lanka to escape you from your hurly-burly routine state of affairs. If you need some time for yourself and for your family to give yourself and your family a break from the increasing stress! Then plan your itinerary, book your flights for Sri Lanka by Lankan Airlines or other Airlines traveling to Sri Lanka from different countries, and give your holidaying spree a new boost. This Country is never out of season for beach holidays as it is blessed with all the ingredients for a perfect sun and sandy holidays. This can be called as an island because it is surrounded by over one thousand kilometers of endless golden sand beaches decorated with palm trees. Whether you like sun-bathing, swimming, surfing, diving or a deeper water experience on your beach holiday with a mix of relaxation, spa, privacy, seclusion, adventure, fun, excitement and an opportunity to truly mix with the culture of the country and it has it all to offer you. Make your Sri Lanka visa and book your flight tickets to Sri Lanka and enjoy your ride in an outstanding manner. Your flights after reaching Sri Lanka will give you the opportunity to enjoy some water sports like; skiing, parasailing, Whitewater River rafting or windsurfing at exotic beaches of this tea drop shaped Island. 

West Coast Beaches of Sri Lanka: The area stretching itself from south of Colombo towards the Galle which is known as west coast. The most sorts out destination of West Coast takers in Sri Lanka is Bentota. Beautiful, wide and sandy beaches can be found in Bentota. Other West Coast beaches are also present which is very popular among tourists. These include; the beaches like Waikkala, Marawila, Seeduwa and Uswetakeiyawa. These are the best places to enjoy water sports or picnic, or simply sun bath with your family.

Down South Beaches of Sri Lanka: These beaches are popular among budget travelers Hikkaduwa and back packers which are most famous beach areas. It is best for sea adventures and scuba diving. The Ahungalla beach in Sri Lanka is famous for deep sea fishing, Unawatuna for surfing and sea food, Ambalangoda Beach for ecological environment of Mangroves and Mirissa is known among Sri Lanka flights takers for it relaxing, calm and small rocking beach.
North West Beaches of Sri Lanka: In these last series of beaches the visitors may go for after taking flights to Sri Lanka from United Kingdom which is North West Beaches. These include; Negambo: a major fishing town, Marawila: beach with number of Catholic Churches, Chilaw: a calm and quite beach relating to Portuguese, Puttalam: having arid fishing settlement and country second largest water pool, Mannar: having fort, fishing, and sea as major attractions and Kalpitiya: with an Old Dutch fort.

With my Sri Lanka tourist visa I have plan of taking Sri Lanka flights this year and celebrate my summer vacations at its trendy beaches.