Sri Lanka Sees Surge in Tourism with Eco-Friendly Initiatives in 2024

Colombo (News 1st): Pavithra Wanniarachchi, the Minister of Wildlife, Forest Resources Conservation, and Irrigation said that compared to the past two years, 2024 is expected to see a significant rise in the number of local and foreign tourists visiting attractions managed by the Department of Forest Conservation.

She noted that 364,521 tourists visited in the first half of 2024, with 40% of them being tourists.

Minister Wanniarachchi added that in 2022, 289,405 tourists visited these destinations managed by the Department of Forest Conservation, and in 2023, the number rose to 444,053. In the first six months of 2024 alone, 364,521 tourists have already visited.

She added that among these visitors, 19.8% were foreign tourists in 2022. This percentage increased to 27.8% in 2023 and has reached 40% so far in 2024.

She highlighted the above at a press briefing held under the press briefing series titled “Two Years of Progress and Way Forward”, held at the Presidential Media Centre yesterday (28).