Greetings to all !
The entire country, concerned with Tourism is agog with activity in ensuring that we continue the momentum of the Tourist high pitch that we have struck in the last three months.
Sustaining the arrival numbers is quite a task with Sri Lanka promotions on overdrive now anticipating to bridge the gap when the decline occurs in the number of foreign arrivals that usually starts mid April. Sri Lanka Tourism shared impressive winter peak season results, with international arrivals reaching 665,295 by March 23, 2025—a marked increase compared to the previous year. These figures illustrate the sector’s potential for growth, and their ambitious ongoing campaigns aims to sustain momentum throughout the summer months.
However the local Holiday makers can make up for the dip, if it is to be experienced as per the usual to some extent with the local travels also at its peak during the long holiday in the 2nd and 3rd week of April.
80% travel decisions influenced by women
According to Forbes Insights, 2025, Female travellers represent a fast-growing travel segment, and recent reports indicate that over 80% of global travel decisions are influenced by women. Family travel, particularly among millennials, is also experiencing rapid growth, with families prioritizing destinations that offer immersive experiences.
We have made much headway to pitch Sri Lanka as a wedding destination too. A meeting to discuss this by stake holders reported in our lead story this week in Sunday Observer Explorer, indicates a good sign that work in that sector too could start soon. Sri Lanka can be seen reaching out to the Globe trotters of the world through every medium possible to catch their attention to entice them to list Sri Lanka into their bucket list. Seeing the Influencers on our shores and the popular tourist locations was a great sight to behold. Our photographers captured the influx of the Tourist kind enjoying the sites of the country in Pages 32 and 33. A picture they say can convey a thousand words, and we feature just that this week so that you can enjoy the sites in pictures.
‘Impossible shot’ today
Speaking of pictures and photography, in the Hot Seat this week is Chitral Jayatileka who is renowned for his Safari Trails and photography of the wilds and has won awards for them too.
Together with Cinnaomon Life, he has arranged the event ‘Impossible Shot’ held today at which a brilliant photographer from the UK who is expected to hold the audience spellbound with his story telling and of the shots through his lens. You can read the details on page 31.
India’s visitors top the list
India is Sri Lanka’s biggest source market accounting for 416,974 visitors out of a total of two million arrivals in 2024 and is more than double of second placed Russia which accounted for 201,920 guests. The trend continues with the first two months of 2025, Sri Lanka welcoming 84,476 tourists from India, making them the largest source market for tourists.
There is fashion fusion taking place too of the two neighboring countries and you can see a Black and white combined presentation of Sri Lanka and India that took place at the CCC recently. Our photographer’s fine captures at the event are on back cover of Sunday Observe Explorer on page 36.
Strong Bond
In the meantime, there are more bilateral agreements taking place to benefit both countries even in the film world (page 30) as well as our scenic location sought after by the Indian top film makers from Bollywood and Kollywood. With relations going from strength to strength, we wish Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is presently our Government’s honoured guest the last two days and wish the Premier and his people the very best, upon his departure from our shores today. Sri Lanka looks forward to welcoming more visitors from India.
We have announced on the first page of this section, page 29, that Sunday Observer Explorer, will not be published on April 13, Sunday and March 20, Sunday in view of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. All those who read the Sunday Observer Explorer, I am sure will also be on your own travels within the next two weeks. With so many holidays falling in- between the two weeks, it perhaps is the best time for you to take the opportunity to do some travelling if you have not already and write to us about all your travails and we will select the best and publish them.
We invite you to keep filing the coupon ‘Sky High-Wins’ on page 29 to win free Air Tickets and mail to us as soon as possible. Very soon we will have the draw and you could be the lucky winner.
To those who celebrate, we wish you all a Very Happy Sinhala and Tamil New Year and all others, Happy Holidays until we meet again through these columns on the last Sunday of this Holiday month.
