Sri Lanka records over 70% fall in tourism in March amid COVID-19 crisis

Sri Lanka, a major tourist attraction in Asia-Pacific registered a major decline in number of people visiting nation due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to international media reports, country witnessed over 70 per cent decline as compared to same period last year. Currently, country is under curfew which was reimposed after a number of coronavirus infections surged in nation.

Sri Lankan government, in a bid to stem spread of coronavirus infection, stopped all passenger flights and ships entering nation on March 18. Till n, 71,370 tourists had already visited island nation, Sri Lankan media reported quoting Sir Lanka Tourist Development Authority’s Tourist Arrival reports, for March 2020. However, in comparison, country had received 2,44,328 tourists in 2019.

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Monthly data also revealed that Indian nationals made up majority of tourists, followed by Russians, British, Germans and French. Tourists from Asia Pacific.accounted for 34 per cent of total tourist footfall followed by rth and South America at 4.6 per cent, Middle Est art 0.9 per cent and Africa at 0.5 per cent. Meanwhile, Europe made up 60 per cent of visit.

Tourists from Kazakhstan increased 

report states that re was a dramatic decline in tourists from all se regions, Surprisingly, tourist arrival from Kazakhstan recorded an increase of 79.7 per cent. Meanwhile, despite pandemic, China still made up to top ten nations for tourist arrivals. In addition, tourist arrivals from Middle East reportedly fell by 85.7 per cent, from Americas by 83.4 per cent, Africa recorded a decline of 77.9 per cent, international media reported. Asia-Pacific region registered a fall of 75.4 per cent and Europe a fall of 64.3 per cent, international media reported. 

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(Im credits: Twitter/ imWaztWas)