February 28, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is poised to become an even more enticing destination for Indian travellers, offering a wealth of attractions in a compact and easily accessible location, alongside the opening of a new casino in Colombo by mid-2025.
According to tourism experts, these developments are expected to significantly boost the island’s appeal to Indian tourists.
Rajiv Mehra, President of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), emphasised that Sri Lanka’s proximity to India, along with shared cultural ties and a wide range of attractions, makes it a top destination for Indian travellers.
He further highlighted that although India boasts a strong gaming tourism market, many travellers are limited by the domestic offerings, primarily in Goa and Sikkim.
In this regard, Sri Lanka’s luxury options and proximity to India make it an attractive alternative for those seeking new experiences.
Sri Lanka has long been a popular destination for Indian visitors, with India being the island nation’s largest source market. In 2024, Sri Lanka welcomed 416,974 Indian visitors, which made up a significant portion of the country’s total two million tourist arrivals, outpacing second-placed Russia, which recorded 201,920 visitors.
Amitabh Kant, the architect behind India’s celebrated tourism campaigns such as “Incredible India” and the branding of Kerala as “God’s Own Country,” recently visited Colombo and praised Sri Lanka for its unique tourism offerings, which he believes have yet to be fully discovered by the majority of Indian travellers.
Kant, a former Indian bureaucrat and the former CEO of NITI Aayog, a policy think tank of the Government of India, noted that India has an outbound tourism market of 20 million people, presenting a significant opportunity for Sri Lanka to capture a larger share of this demographic.
Kant also urged Indian tourists to explore Sri Lanka’s rich heritage, vibrant culture, and stunning architecture, encouraging them to venture beyond traditional destinations to uncover the unique charm of the island nation.
With the new casino in Colombo set to open in mid-2025, Sri Lanka is positioning itself as not only a cultural and natural haven but also an emerging hotspot for gaming tourism.
