Sri Lanka tourism revenue recorded a 1% increase in September 2025 compared to the same month last year, reaching 182.9 million US dollars, supported by a sharp 30% surge in tourist arrivals, according to the Central Bank and tourism promotion authority data.
Tourism earnings edge up 1% as arrivals surge 30%, boosting foreign exchange inflows.
Sri Lanka tourism posted its first monthly revenue growth in three months, with earnings increasing by 1% year-on-year to 182.9 million US dollars in September 2025. The rise came despite weaker performance in previous months, where revenue had fallen 3% in July and 8.2% in August.
The country welcomed 158,971 visitors in September, a 30.1% increase from the same period last year. This surge in arrivals played a key role in boosting foreign exchange earnings, even though the revenue growth rate remained modest. Tourism currently accounts for around 3% of Sri Lanka’s economy, making it one of the most vital sectors for foreign currency inflows.
For the first nine months of 2025, tourism revenue climbed 5.3% to 2.47 billion US dollars. The government has set an ambitious target of 5 billion US dollars in revenue and 3 million tourist arrivals for the year. In 2024, the industry generated 3.17 billion US dollars, marking a 53.2% increase from 2023, though it fell short of the original target.
Tourist arrivals have continued to trend upward, rising 16.3% in the first nine months of 2025 to 1,725,494 visitors, compared to 1,484,808 during the same period last year. The sector experienced a significant rebound in 2024, with a 38.1% increase in arrivals to 2.05 million.
Tourism played a critical role in Sri Lanka’s economy prior to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks and the subsequent economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and the financial crisis. The sector contributed nearly 5% to GDP at its peak in 2018.
Officials estimate earnings based on surveys conducted by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. The recent uptick in tourism receipts has also helped boost imports and narrow the merchandise trade deficit as sector participants increase spending.
The positive September performance is viewed as a potential sign of stronger momentum heading into the peak travel season, with policymakers and industry leaders closely monitoring whether the sector can meet its year-end targets.