Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is poised to record its highest January arrivals since 2018, with projections indicating that visitor numbers for the month could exceed 253,000.
The surge in arrivals is driven by a sharp rise in daily average visitors, reflecting the industry’s strong recovery and boosting optimism for sustained growth throughout the year.
According to the latest data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the country welcomed 212,838 tourists in January, marking a 21% year-on-year (YoY) increase compared to the same period in 2024. The daily average arrivals for the first 26 days of January reached 8,186, a 6.2% increase over the 7,707 recorded in 2018.
If this momentum continues, total arrivals for January 2025 will comfortably surpass the 238,924 visitors recorded in January 2018.
The composition of the top five source markets remains unchanged from last year. India leads with 37,838 arrivals, followed by Russia (29,266), the UK (18,036), Germany (12,663), and China (12,496).
The steady influx of travelers from these key markets highlights Sri Lanka’s growing appeal as a global tourism destination, supported by enhanced air connectivity, strategic marketing campaigns, and renewed confidence in the country’s stability.