22% YoY growth and Bohra convention boost arrivals, but missed monthly target raises red flags for ambitious 3M goal
Sri Lanka’s tourism sector saw a welcome uptick in June, recording 138,241 tourist arrivals, marking a 22% year-on-year (YoY) growth. The surge was largely propelled by the Dawoodi Bohra International Convention held in Colombo from 27 June to 5 July, offering a timely lift amid ongoing geopolitical challenges affecting travel in the region.
Despite the boost, the country fell short of its monthly target for the sixth consecutive month, missing the June goal of 177,257 by over 39,000 visitors. While the increase is a positive sign of Sri Lanka’s continuing tourism appeal, concerns are mounting over the sector’s ability to meet its ambitious target of 3 million arrivals in 2025.
Bohra Convention Delivers a Timely Boost
The Bohra convention acted as a critical inflow driver, with the final week of June witnessing a sharp rise in arrivals—49,831 tourists, compared to weekly averages earlier in the month. This spike helped push average daily arrivals to 4,608, up from 3,782 in June 2024.
However, industry experts point out that the convention was a one-off event, and that sustained growth will require more than isolated surges.
Mid-Year Snapshot: Progress but Not Enough
As of the end of June, year-to-date (YTD) arrivals stood at 1,168,044, reflecting a 15.6% YoY increase. When compared to the pre-pandemic benchmark year of 2018, the growth is marginal—up just 0.29% with an increase of 3,397 tourists.
India remains Sri Lanka’s largest source market, contributing 37,934 visitors in June (27% of the total), followed by the UK (11,628) and China (8,804). For the YTD figure, India accounts for 241,994 arrivals, maintaining a dominant 21% share. Other notable contributors include Russia, the UK, Australia, Pakistan, and Germany.
The Road Ahead: 1.83 Million More Needed
To meet the 3 million tourist arrival target for 2025, Sri Lanka must attract an additional 1.83 million visitors in the second half of the year—translating to about 305,000 tourists per month, nearly triple the current monthly average of 195,000.
Analysts warn that current momentum is insufficient. Key initiatives such as a nation branding campaign and a free-visa scheme for 39 countries—announced in 2024—are still stuck in limbo due to bureaucratic inertia. Without urgent implementation of these and other promotional measures, industry observers fear the country may fall significantly short of its target.
“Sri Lanka is on the right path,” said one analyst, “but unless serious reforms, marketing campaigns, and facilitation measures are fast-tracked, the 3 million mark will remain elusive.”