Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has shown impressive momentum in the first three months of 2025, crossing the $1 billion mark in total revenue, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. From January to March 2025, the country recorded tourism earnings amounting to $1,122.3 million—a 9.4% increase compared to the $1,025.9 million generated during the same period in 2024.
March alone contributed $354 million in earnings, helping push the quarterly figure past the billion-dollar milestone. The Tourism Development Authority reported that a total of 722,276 foreign visitors arrived in the country during this period, compared to 635,784 arrivals in the first quarter of 2024.
However, while overall revenue and arrivals have increased, there has been a slight dip in per-tourist spending. The average earnings per tourist fell to $1,553.83 in early 2025, down from $1,613.59 in the same period last year.
The data reflects a growing appeal of Sri Lanka as a travel destination, but also suggests the need to explore new strategies to maximize individual tourist spending.
