By: Staff Writer
July 13, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has surpassed 1.2 million arrivals in 2025, marking a 15% increase year-on-year. However, industry analysts warn that current growth levels are falling short of the ambitious annual target of 3 million visitors and $5 billion in tourism revenue.
According to data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), a total of 1,216,344 tourists arrived in the country by July 8. During the first eight days of July alone, Sri Lanka welcomed 48,300 tourists. While this contributes to the growing total, it represents a slight decline compared to the same period last year, when 50,141 arrivals were recorded.
Average daily arrivals during this early July period have dropped to 6,038, compared to 6,268 in 2024. The modest dip signals a slowdown in momentum at the start of a critical summer travel season.
To meet the monthly target of 277,195 arrivals set for July, Sri Lanka must now attract 228,895 additional tourists in just 23 days—requiring an average of nearly 9,956 daily arrivals, a 65% jump from current trends. While the Kandy Esala Perahera festival is expected to provide a seasonal boost, analysts suggest it may not be enough to bridge the growing gap.
India remains the top contributor to Sri Lanka’s tourism numbers, sending 10,153 visitors during the first eight days of July and totaling 252,147 arrivals year-to-date. Russia and the United Kingdom follow closely with 112,939 and 112,762 arrivals respectively. The UK also contributed 4,860 visitors in early July. Australia (3,310), China (3,181), and France (2,335) round out the top source markets during this period.
Despite the promising year-to-date figures, experts caution that Sri Lanka must average approximately 297,000 monthly arrivals through December to meet its 3 million goal. This is significantly above the year’s best monthly performance so far—252,761 arrivals in January.
Tourism industry stakeholders are increasingly concerned about the lack of sustained global promotional efforts and the country’s overreliance on a few key markets. While Sri Lanka’s tourism recovery since the crisis has been notable, insiders stress that without immediate, strategic interventions and a coordinated global marketing push, the 2025 targets may be out of reach.
Policymakers now face growing pressure to act quickly, converting global interest into actual visits and ensuring steady tourist inflows during the crucial second half of the year.
