Tourism industry surpasses half-a-million arrivals

Saturday, 8 March 2025 00:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Welcomes 530,746 tourists YTD; up 15.1% YoY supported by arrivals from India, Russia and UK
First five days of March receive 37,786 tourists, posting 9.12% YoY growth
SL needs 82.3% visitors in next nine months to achieve 3 m arrivals target by year-end
Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe expresses confidence in achieving 2025 target
Assures new promotional plans to be introduced this month

In a significant feat for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, total arrivals for the year have surpassed the half-a-million mark, fuelling optimism about achieving the ambitious target of 3 million visitors by the end of 2025.

Year-to-date (YTD), the country welcomed a total of 530,746 tourists, reflecting a 15.1% year-on-year (YoY) growth, which was supported by the 37,786 arrivals during the same period that also marked a 9.12% increase compared to the corresponding period in 2024.

For March, Sri Lanka Tourism has projected 302,803 arrivals, with 265,107 additional tourists needed in the remaining 26 days, whilst the first two months have miserably failed to meet the monthly targets, despite the YoY increase in footfall.

Looking ahead, achieving the 3 million target by year-end will also require sustained momentum, with the industry needing to secure 82.31% of the remaining arrivals over the next nine months of 2025.

Commenting on this milestone, Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe expressed confidence in reaching the 3 million visitor target, stating that surpassing 500,000 arrivals this early in the year has provided a strong foundation for further growth.

In a video message, he announced that new plans to promote Sri Lanka as a tourism destination will be introduced within this month, aimed at sustaining and accelerating the current momentum.

The Deputy Minister also affirmed the Tourism Ministry’s commitment to achieving this ambitious goal, emphasising that targeted promotional efforts and strategic initiatives would play a crucial role in achieving the projected numbers.

As per the latest data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), from 1 January to 5 March 2025, India remains the largest source market, contributing 84,476 visitors, followed by Russia with 70,159, and the UK with 51,105 travellers.

So far in March, Russia (5,768) has led in tourist numbers, followed by India (5,373) and the UK (3,847). Other key markets include: Germany, France, China, Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, and Bangladesh.

The industry also saw a significant financial boost, generating $ 400.7 million in revenue in January 2025, reflecting a 17.2% YoY increase.

With the Government aiming to surpass $ 5 billion in tourism income in 2025, the focus remains on sustaining growth, enhancing promotional efforts, and improving infrastructure to attract more visitors in the months ahead.

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