229,298 visitors in March push Sri Lanka's 1st quarter total to 722,276 tourist arrivals
229,298 tourists arrived in the country in March 2025. This represents a 9.1 percent growth from a year ago.
India remained the top source market, contributing 17.1% of total arrivals for the month with 39,212 visitors. Russia with 29,177 arrivals took 2nd place contributing 12.7%, followed by UK’s 22,447 (9.8 percent). There were 17,918 visitors from Germany (making up 7.8 percent). France with 15,278 (6.7%) took 5th place replacing China which slid to 6th place having produced 11,114 visitors (4.8%) to the country.
Sri Lanka’s tourism sector recorded 722,276 arrivals in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting a 14% year-on-year increase (209,181 arrivals in March 2024), and surpassing Q1 figures from 2018. Despite the positive trajectory, the country fell short of its ambitious monthly target of 302,803 arrivals, missing the goal by 73,505 visitors. It was also short of the 2025 1st quarter accumulative target of 919,427 visitors, by 197,151 (21%).
India continues to be Sri Lanka’s top source market in 2025, contributing 118,315 visitors YTD. Russia follows with 93,568 arrivals, while the United Kingdom secured third place with 69,705 travelers.
As the peak winter season concludes, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has launched the ‘Sri Lanka, A Story for Every Season’ campaign. This large-scale summer-focused initiative aims to attract over 2.2 million travelers and generate an estimated Rs. 32 million in media exposure, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s position as a year-round travel destination.
Sri Lanka Tourism’s collaboration with a handpicked group of renowned international travel influences and journalists, consisting of a group of 12 from countries, namely; Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Portugal Ireland and India, aims to redefine its global image beyond the winter season. The influencer campaign is launched to enhance tourism appeal to boost traffic during the traditionally low ‘off-season’.
Sri Lanka is targeting 3 million arrivals generating total US$ 5 billion revenue, compared to the $ 3.17 billion earned in 2024, and the $ 2.1 billion in 2023, and is confident of making 2025 the best year for the country’s tourism history, surpassing the previous best of total 2,333,796 arrivals achieved in 2018.
Hospitality Sri Lanka
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