Sri Lanka’s tourism sector continues its upward momentum in 2025, welcoming 722,276 visitors in the first quarter (Q1), surpassing the industry’s best year of 2018. However, the figure falls short of the all-time high of 740,600 recorded in Q1 2019. The month of March alone saw 229,298 tourist arrivals, reflecting a 10% year-on-year (YoY) growth and contributing to a 14% YoY increase in year-to-date (YTD) numbers. Despite the positive trajectory, March fell short of its ambitious monthly target of 302,803 arrivals, missing the goal by 73,505 visitors. The total also trailed 2018’s March benchmark by a slight margin of 4,084 tourists.
March witnessed fluctuating weekly arrivals, with figures of 53,113 in the first week, 52,639 in the second, 51,459 in the third, and a notable surge to 72,087 in the final week. While YoY daily arrivals increased from 6,748 in March 2024 to 7,397 in March 2025, a month-on-month decline from 8,579 in February 2025 to 7,397 in March suggests potential challenges in sustaining consistent growth.
As the peak winter season concludes, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has launched the ‘Sri Lanka, A Story for Every Season’ campaign. This large-scale summer-focused initiative aims to attract over 2.2 million travelers and generate an estimated Rs. 32 million in media exposure, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s position as a year-round travel destination.
India continues to be Sri Lanka’s top source market in 2025, contributing 118,315 visitors YTD. Russia follows with 93,568 arrivals, while the United Kingdom secured third place with 69,705 travelers. In March alone, India accounted for 39,212 tourists, Russia 29,177, and the UK 22,447.
With a robust recovery in place, industry experts remain hopeful about reaching the ambitious target of 3 million tourist arrivals and generating over $5 billion in revenue by the end of 2025. In comparison, Sri Lanka welcomed 2.05 million visitors in 2024, earning over $3.2 billion-a 52.38% YoY revenue increase. As the tourism sector pushes forward with new strategies and marketing initiatives, Sri Lanka remains poised for continued growth, solidifying its reputation as a top global travel destination.
