Sri Lanka tourist arrivals down in May 2017 impacted by weather

Jun 07, 2017 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals were down 2.

5 percent to 121,891 in May, from an year earlier, with dips seen from the Middle East, South Asia and some East Asian markets, the latest data shows.





According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) arrivals in the first five months’ were up 4.

8 percent to 887,093 compared to the same period last year. Arrivals from the Middle East were down 46 percent to 3,236 in May, with Saudi Arabia dipping to 834 from 2,279. South Asian as a whole also fell 7.



7 percent to 43,511 with India down by 0.3 percent to 34,167. Maldives was down 27 percent to 5,364, Pakistan 6.

8 percent to 2,333 and Bangladesh fell 12 percent to 1,104. In East Asia, Indonesian visitor numbers dropped 28 percent to 1,494, and Malaysia 1.



4 percent to 2,089. Chinese arrivals, however were up 16.

5 percent to 18,491. Tourism accounts for up to 5% of Sri Lanka’s economy.



Tourist arrivals and revenue hit record highs in 2016, with annual arrivals jumping 14% to a record 2.05 million. May is an off peak month for visitors to the island while the island was also affected by torrential rains and floods.