Sri Lanka Welcomes 2.3 Million Tourists in 2025, Indians Lead the Pack

Tourism Surge in Sri Lanka

Colombo, Jan 18: In 2025, Sri Lanka attracted approximately 2.3 million visitors, with Indian tourists making up the largest segment.

According to a statement from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), India has emerged as the top source market, contributing 531,511 arrivals, which is more than double that of the second-highest country. This marks a significant increase of over 114,000 visitors compared to the previous year.

On average, Indian arrivals accounted for over 23% of the total each month, peaking in December with 56,715 arrivals, while February recorded the lowest at 35,000.

December's total of 258,928 arrivals was the highest for the year, underscoring Sri Lanka's strong appeal as a holiday destination.

The SLTDA noted a year-on-year growth of over 15%, with the United Kingdom maintaining its status as the second-largest market with 21,277 arrivals.

Tourists from Europe and the Asia Pacific regions comprised a substantial 92.7% of all visitors, with Europe alone contributing 51.3%, reinforcing Sri Lanka's reputation as a winter sun getaway.

In the first 15 days of 2026, the country welcomed 131,898 tourists, with January 15 marking the highest single-day arrivals at 10,483.

During this early period of 2026, India again led with 23,786 visitors, followed by Russia with 14,785, the United Kingdom with 12,166, and Germany with 9,260.