Do we have a data-driven tourism strategy ?

May be we do, I'm not too sure on that. However, there are some interesting "day-to-day" data points on Google Search providing great insights for many Sri Lankan entrepreneurs to focus on.

According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority - Weekly Report for 1-15th January 2024 [Full Report], Russia was reported as the market with the highest arrivals, counting for 16,263 visitors with a share of 16%. India follows at 15%, UK at 8%, Germany at 7%, China at 5%, France at 4%, Australia at 4%, Poland at 4%, USA at 3%, Netherlands at 2%, and a long tail of other countries at 32%.

To understand search insights, I used the simple Google Trends tool on these markets to identify potential opportunities based on the wants and needs of potential visitors who are somewhat aware of Sri Lanka.

Russia : In the past 7 days, one key highlight from the top 25 search queries in Russia is searches on Unawatuna. Connecting this with the search term "Sri Lanka in March," there are numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with this high-intent traveler.

Now I'm moving to the bottom of the list, Netherlands: From a things-to-do perspective, Ella and Kandy stand out as key highlights

Let's look at the USA : I'm not being sarcastic, but if I were to work on a Sri Lanka tourism campaign, my focus would revolve around answering fundamental questions such as 'What is Sri Lanka?' and 'Where is Sri Lanka?'. I previously addressed this issue in an article shortly after the Easter attack, where there were numerous searches from the USA seeking information on the location of Sri Lanka. It seems crucial to revisit the basics and prioritize creating awareness about 'Sri Lanka.

Since the objective was to find hidden opportunities in search queries, I delved into the rising searches during the last 7 days. One key highlight was the increased interest in "Helicopter tours in Sri Lanka" and "Corporate Heli Tours Sri Lanka" in the USA. This presents a promising opportunity for current operators and entrepreneurs willing to focus on high-net-worth individuals and corporates in the USA market.

That's all from me on this article. You can use these simple tools yourself to get deeper insights and identify opportunities out there.