Sri Lanka welcomed 816,191 tourists from January 1 to April 15, 2025, reflecting a strong recovery in the tourism sector following the country’s unprecedented economic downturn.
According to statistics from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), India emerged as the top source market, contributing 136,535 visitors. Russia followed closely with 102,273 tourist arrivals during the same period. These two countries also led the tourist arrival figures for March, securing market shares of 17.1% and 12.7% respectively.
Tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom reached 22,447 in March 2025, up from 21,540 during the corresponding period last year. For the first fifteen days of April, Sri Lanka recorded 93,915 arrivals. Of these, 18,220 were from India, accounting for 19.4% of the total, while the UK, Russia, Australia, and Germany contributed 11,425, 8,705, 6,604, and 7,746 arrivals respectively.
From January to March, the data shows dynamic growth across several source markets. India continued to dominate with 118,315 arrivals—representing a 22.9% year-over-year increase—driven by geographic proximity and cultural ties. Russia retained a strong position with 93,568 visitors, though its growth was more modest at 2.6%.
European markets showed mixed but largely positive trends, with France and the Netherlands recording significant growth of 30.0% and 38.0% respectively. This surge is likely attributed to improved flight connectivity, higher disposable incomes, and successful promotional campaigns.
Tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom and Australia also surged, growing by 18.5% and 25.7% respectively, indicating growing appeal across diverse demographics. However, arrivals from China declined by 7.3%, pointing to ongoing post-pandemic recovery challenges or intensified competition from alternative destinations.
Emerging markets such as Poland (11.6% growth) and the United States (11.3%) also posted promising gains, signaling a broader diversification of Sri Lanka’s tourism base.
