March 17, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s tourism sector continues to flourish as the country experiences a surge in arrivals during the peak season, with strong earnings reinforcing the country’s position as a leading travel destination.
Global publications have also recently spotlighted Sri Lanka as one of the most sought-after locations for 2025, further bolstering its appeal.
In February 2025, Sri Lanka earned a remarkable US$ 367.6 million from tourism, securing its place as the third largest source of foreign income, following remittances and garment exports.
This marks the second month of a solid performance, bringing the total earnings for the first two months of the year to US$ 768.2 million.
Although this figure represents a slight dip from the US$ 400.7 million generated in January 2025, it still demonstrates growth compared to February 2024, when earnings stood at US$ 345.7 million.
The cumulative revenue for the first two months of 2025 has seen an 11.7 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, reflecting the ongoing recovery and expansion of the industry.
The growth in earnings can be attributed to a significant rise in tourist arrivals. February 2025 saw a total of 240,217 international visitors, surpassing the 218,350 arrivals recorded in the same month of 2024.
As March progresses, data indicates that Sri Lanka welcomed 97,322 visitors during the first 13 days of the month, bringing the total for the year so far to 590,300 arrivals.
Just two weeks ago, on March 1, the country reached the milestone of 500,000 arrivals, with a target of welcoming 3 million tourists by the end of 2025. If achieved, this would set new records in both visitor numbers and revenue, surpassing the country’s previous highest performance in 2018.
That year, Sri Lanka attracted 2.5 million visitors, generating US$ 4.4 billion in earnings.
Sri Lanka’s rising popularity is no accident. The nation is increasingly recognised for its pristine beaches, diverse natural landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, all of which contribute to its allure.
Its appeal has been highlighted by leading publications: Conde Nast Traveller recently named Sri Lanka the most family-friendly destination for 2025, whilst TIME Magazine included the Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands on its prestigious list of the world’s 100 greatest places to visit in 2025.
This growing international recognition comes even before Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Tourism launches its major destination marketing campaign later this month. The campaign is expected to further elevate Sri Lanka’s profile as a must-visit destination, as global travel recovers from the disruptions of the pandemic.
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry appears well on track to surpass its previous records. Amongst the country’s exciting offerings is the newly completed Pekoe Trail, a 186-mile long-distance walking route that was finished in March 2024.
Named after the high-quality black tea grown in the region, the trail runs through colonial-era roads and railway tracks, passing through tea plantations, eucalyptus forests, and picturesque villages.
The journey culminates in the scenic hill station of Nuwara Eliya, providing hikers with panoramic views of the iconic Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak), a revered pilgrimage site.
