In 2023, total employment in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, including indirect jobs, grew by 11.24% year-on-year (YoY), reaching 429,641 employees, according to provisional data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). Direct employment within the sector increased by 7.3% YoY, hitting an all-time high of 204,591 workers. Hotels and restaurants dominated, accounting for 80.9%