February this year saw 218,350 tourists arriving on our shores, a change of 102.09 percent compared to the same month last year, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority’s monthly report.
European tourists are the largest arrivals by region with a percentage share of 61.5 percent, nearly double compared to the Asia Pacific region at 32.1 percent; the second largest tourist share.
The South in particular is teeming with tourists and is a hotspot for backpackers and surfers. Hip bars, fancy cafes and hostels have virtually popped up overnight in Southern hamlets like Kabalana, Midigama and Weligama to meet the increasing tourist demand; transforming these once quaint fishing towns into exciting locales full of revelry and adventure.
