Sri Lanka’s tourism sector continues its upward momentum, with tourist arrivals in the first half of February 2025 witnessing a 17% year-on-year (YoY) increase. The country welcomed 115,043 visitors during this period, further strengthening its tourism recovery.
This surge has propelled the year-to-date arrivals to over 370,000 within the first 14 days of February, marking a 20% YoY rise compared to the same period in 2024. The average daily arrivals climbed to 8,849 visitors, a notable increase from 7,573 recorded last year.
Industry analysts predict that if the current trend continues, Sri Lanka could record over 250,000 tourist arrivals in February. However, this figure still falls short of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority’s (SLTDA) ambitious target of 310,937 for the month. To achieve this goal, the country would need to maintain a daily arrival rate of approximately 11,105 visitors.
The year commenced with an impressive 21.4% YoY growth in January, welcoming 252,761 visitors—the highest-ever recorded for the month, surpassing the previous record of 238,924 in 2018.
India retained its position as the top source market for Sri Lanka in the first 13 days of February, contributing 16,016 visitors. Russia followed with 14,315, while the United Kingdom recorded 12,925 arrivals. Other key source markets included Germany, France, China, Australia, Poland, the Netherlands, and the United States.
Cumulatively, India has led the tourist arrivals so far in 2025 with 59,391 visitors, followed by Russia with 48,411 and the UK with 34,655.
Industry stakeholders highlight the impact of extended tax concessions for airlines operating into Sri Lanka’s three key international airports—Jaffna International Airport, Colombo International Airport (Ratmalana), and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. These measures have contributed to the steady growth in international tourist footfall.
Looking ahead, Sri Lanka Tourism has set an ambitious target of attracting 3 million visitors in 2025, with a revenue projection of $5 billion. In 2024, the country welcomed 2.05 million tourists, generating over $3.2 billion in revenue, marking a significant 52.38% YoY increase.
