Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has kicked off 2025 with impressive growth, generating $400.7 million in earnings for January, marking a 17.2% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the latest Central Bank data.
This figure represents the highest January earnings since 2020, underscoring the industry’s resilience and steady recovery. Month-on-month, January’s revenue was also 11% higher than December 2024. While the record for January earnings remains $460.34 million in 2019, and the all-time monthly peak was $475.2 million in December 2018, the current growth trajectory indicates a strong revival for the sector.
Tourism has historically been a key contributor to Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange, accounting for over 14% of foreign currency earnings from 2014 to 2019. However, the industry suffered major setbacks between 2019 and 2022, resulting in a $15 billion loss due to multiple crises.
Despite these challenges, Sri Lanka recorded 2.05 million tourist arrivals in 2024, generating over $3.2 billion in revenue, a 52.38% year-on-year (YoY) increase. Looking ahead, the country aims to attract 3 million visitors and exceed $5 billion in tourism revenue in 2025.