Sri Lanka is not only aiming to increase tourist arrivals but also to boost revenue from high-spending visitors, according to tourism officials. While tourist numbers have risen, income growth has not kept pace, affected by factors such as currency fluctuations, inflation, and changing purchasing power.
“Even though visitor numbers increased, the expected daily spending per tourist has decreased from $171 to $148, showing a decline in revenue,” officials said.
Currently, the majority of tourists come from India, followed by the United States, China, and Germany. Among the top ten source countries, six are European nations, which tend to generate higher spending. Authorities emphasized the need to focus on attracting high-end tourists to increase dollar income.
The Ministry of Tourism also highlighted key infrastructure projects to support tourism growth. Katunayake Airport will be expanded, with funding allocated for domestic flight development. Temporary measures, such as a short-term terminal built with hotel owners’ support, helped manage airport congestion during this season.
Japanese agency JICA has committed to completing studies for the second phase of airport expansion by the end of this year, with construction set to begin by March next year.
Officials stressed that developing domestic airports and flight networks is essential to transport tourists efficiently across the country and introduce new destinations. “It is a collective responsibility to improve both the quantity and quality of tourists, and the ministry is ready to make the necessary policy decisions with private sector support,” the statement added.
