Sri Lanka’s tourism sector earned US$ 354.0 million in March 2025, concluding the peak winter season with total earnings of US$ 1,122.3 million for the first quarter.
March earnings rose by nearly US$16 million compared to US$ 338.4 million in March 2024.
Tourism revenue for the first three months of 2025 increased by 9.4% compared to the same period in 2024.
The increase in earnings was supported by higher tourist arrivals, with 229,298 visitors in March—up from 209,181 last year.
However, March arrivals fell short of targets set by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
From January to March, Sri Lanka welcomed 722,276 tourists, reflecting a 13.6% rise from the previous year.
In the first 15 days of April, 93,915 international travelers visited Sri Lanka.
Despite global economic uncertainties, Sri Lanka is maintaining its target of 3 million tourist arrivals in 2025, aiming to generate US$ 5.0 billion.
The country has been highlighted by global travel publications as a top destination for 2025, boosting its international appeal.
A major global tourism promotion campaign will launch at the end of April, shifting from traditional marketing to a holistic nation branding initiative.
The campaign will showcase Sri Lanka’s strengths in tea, apparel, and cricket under a unified tourism brand.
A nation branding conference is scheduled for mid-April to gather stakeholder feedback and finalize the brand identity.
Tourism remains a vital contributor to Sri Lanka’s external sector, alongside remittances and garments.
The collapse of the tourism industry in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, and the delayed recovery in 2022, significantly contributed to the country’s foreign exchange crisis.
Since then, tourism has been steadily recovering, playing a crucial role in stabilizing the economy and supporting the balance of payments.
