Tourism revenue figures now more accurate, not lower: Minister

Wednesday, 10 June 2026 06:31 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath

Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday told Parliament that the country’s tourism receipts have not declined, but are now being reported more accurately following the adoption of internationally accepted scientific survey methods.

Responding to questions raised by MP Ravi Karunanayake under Standing Order 27(2), Herath said previous survey methodologies relied on limited samples that tended to overstate tourism earnings, whereas the current approach provides a more realistic picture of foreign visitor spending.

He stressed that tourists’ spending behaviour has not changed significantly and that the apparent reduction in revenue figures is the result of correcting previously flawed data collection methods rather than an actual decline in earnings.

During a supplementary question, Karunanayake pointed out that credit card payments made by tourists often bypass the local payment network and are processed through foreign gateways, leading to an estimated 2.5% loss in foreign exchange inflows.

Acknowledging the concern, Herath said no effective mechanism had existed for years to address the issue. He noted that the Government has already introduced measures through the national Budget to collect taxes from international digital platforms and payment applications operating in the country.

The Minister said that while some tourism-related expenditure inevitably leaves the country through international payment systems, the Government is working to establish a formal framework to retain a greater share of revenue within Sri Lanka.

He also noted that legal and technological measures are being introduced, with integration into the local payment network identified as a key priority.

Herath said the Government is directly intervening to strengthen both the regulatory and technological infrastructure required to maximise tourism-related foreign exchange earnings and improve the sector’s overall contribution to the economy.