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

Addressing a press briefing held under the press briefing series titled “Two Years of Progress and Way Forward”, held at the Presidential Media Centre today (28), Wildlife, Forest Resources Conservation, and Irrigation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi further elaborated;

“Compared to the past two years, 2024 is expected to see a significant increase in the number of local and foreign tourists visiting attractive destinations managed by the Department of Forest Conservation. In 2022, 289,405 tourists visited these destinations, and in 2023, the number rose to 444,053. In the first six months of 2024 alone, 364,521 tourists have already visited.

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