Sri Lanka’s tourism industry kicked off 2025 with a record-breaking January, welcoming 252,761 visitors—the highest ever for the month—surpassing the previous peak of 238,924 in 2018.
This surge signals strong recovery and optimism for continued growth in the sector. The latest figures represent a 21.4% year-on-year (YoY) increase from 2024 and a 6% improvement over 2018. Average daily arrivals also rose to 8,154, compared to 6,718 last year and 7,707 in January 2018.
Weekly arrivals showed steady growth, with the first three weeks registering over 50,000 visitors each, culminating in a significant 82,877 in the final week. However, despite the strong performance, the total fell short of Sri Lanka Tourism’s ambitious monthly target of 305,687 by 52,926 visitors.
India remained the largest source market with 43,375 tourists, followed by Russia (34,096), the UK (21,739), China (16,709), and Germany (15,050). Other key markets included France, Australia, Poland, the US, and the Netherlands.
Industry experts attribute the surge to improved air connectivity, global tourism accolades, and renewed confidence in Sri Lanka’s stability. The government’s extension of tax concessions for airlines operating at Jaffna International Airport, Colombo International Airport (Ratmalana), and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport has further facilitated international travel.
In 2025, Sri Lanka aims to attract 3 million tourists and generate $5 billion in revenue. In 2024, the country recorded 2.05 million arrivals, generating over $3.2 billion—a 52.38% YoY increase.
To further boost the sector, the government is introducing major reforms, including a newly approved Tourism Act and the establishment of a National Tourism Commission. These initiatives aim to modernize regulations, streamline decision-making, and enhance governance for sustained industry growth.