Sri Lanka posts record foreign tourist arrivals in 2025
Summary
Sri Lanka achieved a record 2.36 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2025, generating 3.2 billion USD in revenue despite Cyclone Ditwah disruptions. The country aims to increase arrivals by 27% in 2026 to support economic recovery.
Key Points
- Sri Lanka recorded over 2.36 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2025, the highest ever in a calendar year.
- Tourism earnings reached 3.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, making tourism the second-largest foreign exchange source.
- Cyclone Ditwah impacted the island in late November 2025, but tourist inflows remained strong due to policy support and promotions.
- Sri Lanka targets 3 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2026, aiming for a 27% increase to aid economic recovery amid revised IMF growth forecasts.
