November 20, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is aiming for a landmark achievement in its tourism sector, with Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath projecting 2.4 to 2.5 million visitor arrivals by the end of the year.
The country recently celebrated its two-millionth tourist, marking a significant milestone for the industry.
Addressing a tourism collaboration event in Colombo, Minister Herath emphasised India’s position as the largest source of visitors, highlighting strong cultural connections, shared heritage, and seamless air links between the two nations. “Sri Lanka and India are natural travel partners,” he remarked.
Looking ahead, the country is targeting 4 million international arrivals and USD 8 billion in tourism revenue by 2030. The strategy prioritises sustainable practices, broader market engagement, enhanced connectivity, and digital innovation, in line with global initiatives such as the RIAM Declaration on the Future of Tourism, which encourages the integration of AI and technology into tourism planning.
Recent visa exemptions for Indian travellers, along with focused marketing campaigns, have contributed to a noticeable rise in arrivals. Sri Lanka is promoting a diverse range of experiences including city excursions, beach holidays, heritage trails, MICE tourism, destination weddings, whale watching, cricket tourism, and religious circuits such as Buddhist pilgrimage routes and Ramayana trails.
Minister Herath also encouraged Indian filmmakers and investors to explore opportunities in hospitality, events, and film production, reinforcing the longstanding and growing partnership between the two countries in tourism and cultural collaboration.
