February 06, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has achieved a remarkable milestone as it continues to recover and thrive, with January 2025 witnessing an all-time high for tourist arrivals in the month.
The island nation has begun the year with exceptional momentum, welcoming over 250,000 international visitors, a significant achievement after facing numerous challenges in recent years.
According to the latest provisional data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), a total of 252,761 tourists arrived in the country in January, marking a 21 per cent increase compared to the same month in 2024.
This impressive rise also surpasses the previous record set in January 2018, which was regarded as a peak year for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, as the country recorded 238,000 arrivals that month.
This growth represents a 5.8 per cent rise over the 2018 figures, underscoring the ongoing recovery and resilience of the tourism sector.
With this achievement, January 2025 has secured its place as the second-highest month for tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka’s history, just shy of the record set in December 2018, when 253,169 visitors arrived.
The daily average number of arrivals in January 2025 reached an impressive 8,153, whilst the weekly average stood at 63,190, reflecting the steady and growing demand for Sri Lanka as a travel destination.
India remained the largest source of tourists, accounting for 17.2 per cent of total arrivals. Russia followed closely behind with 13.5 per cent, and the United Kingdom rounded out the top three with 8.6 per cent.
Other significant markets included China, Germany, France, Australia, Poland, the United States, and the Netherlands, all contributing to the diverse and growing international appeal of the island.
The SLTDA has set a target for 2025 to attract three million visitors and generate an estimated US $5 billion in revenue from the tourism sector.
Whilst the official monthly targets and growth projections have yet to be released, the strong performance in January is a positive indicator of the sector’s potential.
Historically, Sri Lanka experiences higher tourist arrivals during the first quarter of the year, particularly in January, February, and March, as well as during the mid-year and year-end holiday seasons in July, August, and December.
