September 02, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s tourism sector continued its upward momentum in August, recording a notable year-on-year increase in international arrivals, as the island nation strives to reclaim its position as a premier destination in the region.
Preliminary data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority indicates that 198,235 tourists entered the country during the month, marking a 20.4 per cent rise compared to August last year.
This latest surge brings the cumulative total for the first eight months of 2025 to approximately 1.57 million visitors, pointing to a gradual but consistent recovery in the wake of years of disruption.
August saw a daily average of just under 6,400 arrivals, with numbers almost matching pre-crisis levels—falling only slightly below the 200,000 figure seen in August 2018, before the combined impacts of economic turbulence, political instability, and the global pandemic upended the country’s tourism outlook.
India maintained its position as the most significant source market, contributing 46,473 travellers in August alone—accounting for nearly one in every four visitors. The United Kingdom and Germany followed, providing 17,764 and 12,500 tourists respectively. Other strong-performing markets included China, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, the Netherlands, and Japan, reflecting Sri Lanka’s growing appeal across both traditional and emerging tourism corridors.
Despite the encouraging figures, industry leaders remain cautious. Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe recently acknowledged the challenges ahead in reaching the government’s ambitious target of three million visitors by the end of the year.
To achieve this, Sri Lanka would need to attract over 1.4 million more tourists in the remaining five months—an average of nearly 360,000 arrivals per month, which would represent an unprecedented post-pandemic performance.
To support this push, the National Procurement Commission has reportedly called for new bids to reinvigorate Sri Lanka’s global tourism marketing efforts. While these campaigns may take several months to fully materialise, interim measures are being pursued, including promotional roadshows and bilateral tourism initiatives.
There is also growing concern within the sector about the underutilisation of agreements made with international marketing agencies last year, with stakeholders calling for a more proactive approach to deploying existing resources and partnerships.
Nevertheless, optimism persists. The steady increase in arrivals, bolstered by renewed interest from high-potential markets and a favourable perception of Sri Lanka as a safe, affordable, and culturally rich destination, provides a strong foundation for further growth in the months ahead.
