Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Monday, 8 September 2025 04:59 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Despite the shortfall in arrivals, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has managed to rake in over $ 2 billion in revenue during the first eight months of 2025.
Tourism earnings from January to August registered over $ 2.03 billion, reflecting a substantial 7.8% year-on-year (YoY) increase, the latest Central Bank data release showed.
However, the sector is still grappling with a 46.3% shortfall in revenue, compared to its benchmark performance in 2018.
In August, the industry registered earnings of $ 318.5 million, down 3.1% from the same month last year, while January’s $ 400.66 million stands as the peak monthly revenue so far.
The latest Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) data release showed that the average expenditure per tourist per day from January to August 2025 was $ 171.74 (Airport Survey 2024/2025 July to December), with an average stay of 8.57 days. In comparison, 2024 saw tourists spending $ 181.15 per day over an average stay of 8.42 nights, indicating a slight decline in daily spending, but a marginally longer stay in 2025 due to the increased demand for the wellness tourism category.
The month-to-month figures indicate that tourist arrivals consistently fell short of the SLTDA’s projections throughout the first eight months of the year. The industry has warned that meeting the ambitious 2025 targets of $ 5 billion in revenue and 3 million arrivals may prove difficult.
To achieve these ambitious goals, the country would need to generate over $ 2.9 billion representing nearly 60% of the annual revenue target within the remaining four months.
Tourism stakeholders underscore the urgency of targeted marketing campaigns, investment in infrastructure, and enhanced service offerings to attract high-spending international visitors, noting that the sector’s recovery remains crucial to the broader economy.
