Tourism arrivals in Sri Lanka increased by 81% in the second week of January 2025. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) recorded 70,944 visitors, up from 39,000 in the year’s first five days.
Compared to the same week last year, arrivals rose by 22.6%. This highlights Sri Lanka’s growing appeal as a travel destination.
India and Russia were the top source markets. India contributed 11,749 visitors (16.6%), while Russia added 11,629 visitors (16.4%). The United Kingdom followed with 5,520 visitors (7.8%). Germany (5,049; 7.1%), Australia (3,055; 4.3%), and France (2,714; 3.8%) completed the top six.
Daily arrivals peaked on January 2 and 3. These two days saw averages of 9,392 and 8,974 visitors, respectively.
Chinese tourist numbers ranked seventh. This drop was expected due to Lunar New Year celebrations, which are family-focused. However, increased flights from China to Sri Lanka suggest strong growth potential in the coming months.
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is recovering rapidly. The steady increase in arrivals signals a promising year ahead for the sector and the economy.
