Sri Lanka Records 2.3 Million Tourist Arrivals, Post-Crisis Milestone
- CNL Reporter
- December 30, 2025
- Travel and Tourism
- Sri Lanka, tourist arrivals
- 0 Comments
Sri Lanka surpassed 2.3 million tourist arrivals on 26 December 2025, marking its strongest post-crisis performance and nearing the 2018 record of 2.33 million visitors, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
During the first 25 days of December, 195,394 tourists arrived, with India leading as the largest source market. Russia, the UK, Germany, and Australia were also top contributors. Year-to-date, India accounted for more than 520,000 arrivals, highlighting the country’s reliance on a concentrated set of markets.
While December’s full-month target of 344,309 arrivals is unlikely to be met, revised projections indicate total 2025 arrivals will reach 2.35–2.4 million, with tourism earnings estimated at $3.4 billion.
Looking ahead, forecasts for 2026 suggest arrivals could rise to 3 million, generating $4.3 billion in revenue, provided airline connectivity improves, free-visa policies are implemented, and marketing initiatives are strengthened.
