Sri Lanka marked a significant milestone in its tourism recovery, recording the highest monthly tourist arrivals for 2024 in December, with 248,592 visitors.
For the entire year, 2,053,465 tourists visited the island, reflecting a 38% increase compared to 2023. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) reported tourism earnings of USD 3,168.6 million, representing a 53.2% growth year-over-year.
The 2024 figures nearly reached pre-pandemic and pre-Easter attack levels, with 2.3 million tourists recorded in 2018.
The upward trend has continued into 2025, with 70,944 tourists arriving in the first nine days of January, indicating a promising start to the year for the tourism sector.
This growth underscores Sri Lanka’s recovery as a preferred destination, bolstered by increased global confidence and strategic promotional efforts.
