Tourism Minister invites diaspora to invest in tourism

Friday, 23 January 2026 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath

Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath has called on Sri Lankan expatriates to invest in the country’s tourism industry that has seen a rebound since the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis.

Taking to social media, Herath said: “I attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the Aureum luxury hotel complex developed with investments from Luxembourg. I pointed out that businesses that were closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic are reopening under new investors due to the economic and political stability that has emerged in the country.”

“Last year, we led the tourism industry to a major milestone, and as a result, European investments have come to Sri Lanka. The reopening of this tourism industry project after many years of closure is a positive step for the country. Therefore, I kindly invite all Sri Lankans living abroad to bring new investors to the country,” he added.

The sector recorded a modest financial recovery in 2025, generating just over $ 3.2 billion in revenue, as growth in earnings lagged the surge in visitor arrivals. Despite record arrivals of more than 2.36 million, tourism income rose by only 1.6% year-on-year, a widening gap between rising volumes and per-visitor spending following a downward revision in average daily yields, and raising fresh concerns about the quality and value of tourism-led growth.