3 m arrivals target out of reach

• Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe concedes shortfall of arrivals will likely reach just over 2.5 m amid policy delays and operational bottlenecks
• Acknowledges limited BIA slots stall charter flights; but explores Mattala options
• Notes free-visa scheme for 47 countries still pending AG clearance with rollout likely in early October
• Discloses Govt. mulls long-term visas for elderly Europeans to boost extended stays and wellness tourism
• Industry stakeholders warn policy delays go deeper than missing statistical target, risking long-term competitiveness

Tourism Deputy Minister  Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe

By Charumini de Silva 

Sri Lanka’s much-publicised target of welcoming 3 million tourists in 2025 is slipping out of reach, with the Government now conceding that actual arrivals will likely fall short by at least half a million.

Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe said the country will not reach its ambitious target of 3 million arrivals, but will not downsize its target. 

“Realistically, we will not reach the 3 million target this year, but we will not downgrade our target. With just three months left, I feel we will end up just over 2.5 million,” Prof. Ranasinghe told the Daily FT. 

To hit the official goal, Sri Lanka would need to attract nearly 1.4 million more visitors in the remaining 16 weeks, requiring a weekly inflow of over 87,000 arrivals, which is over double the current rate.

Industry analysts opined such numbers are mathematically impossible without the kind of demand boost only a global marketing campaign could deliver.

Prof. Ranasinghe said airline access has also been a stumbling block. The Deputy Minister revealed that “most of the requested slots were not available” at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), forcing charter operators to pull back. 

“Despite our attempts, some of the approvals did not materialise on time,” he said, adding that the Government is now exploring alternatives such as routing Belavia flights from Belarus to Mattala International Airport, while confirming that Russia’s Aeroflot is expected to resume services soon. 

However, industry stakeholders argue that even with a seasonal surge during the winter holidays, the numbers are unrealistic without strong global demand-generation measures. “We are disappointed by the policy vacuum and repeated delays,” they claimed.

The rollout of the free-visa scheme for 47 countries, announced in August by Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath, has also been delayed (https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Cabinet-nod-to-rollout-free-visa-policy-for-40-more-countries-Vijitha/44-779517).

When pressed on the issue, Prof. Ranasinghe confirmed the proposal was still pending Attorney General’s clearance. “It will take around two weeks, and we expect to roll it out from early October. By then, peak winter bookings may already be locked in as well,” the Deputy Minister explained. 

Speaking at Sri Lankan-German Tourism Conference 2025 organised by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) on Tuesday, he disclosed that the Government is considering long-term visas for elderly foreigners, especially from Europe, to encourage extended stays and expand wellness tourism.

Many in the sector stressed that these delays go deeper than missing a statistical target. “For a Government that promised a tourism-led economic boost, the inability to match ambitions with delivery has left us — the private sector, to question whether 3 million arrivals was ever a realistic goal or simply political branding,” they said, noting that every delay sends a signal to the market that Sri Lanka is not ready. 

“The issue is no longer about whether the 3 million target can be achieved in 2025, but whether Sri Lanka can position itself competitively at all in the years ahead. If we don’t get our act together now, we risk losing more than just one season; we risk losing our place in the game,” they warned.