Sri Lanka's tourism revenue surges in first quarter

This marks a 9.4% increase compared to the USD 1,025.9 million recorded during the same period in 2024.

The rise in earnings comes on the back of a strong influx of tourists, with over 722,000 arrivals between January and March 2025. This represents a 13.6% year-on-year increase in visitor numbers.

Despite the surge in arrivals and total earnings, the average income per tourist has seen a slight decline. On average, Sri Lanka earned USD 1,553.83 per tourist in Q1 2025, down from USD 1,613.59 in the first quarter of 2024.

Analysts suggest that while the country is successfully attracting more tourists, changes in travel patterns, shorter stays, or budget-conscious travelers may have contributed to the drop in per capita earnings.

Tourism continues to be a vital sector for Sri Lanka’s economy, and the uptick in total revenue is a positive sign of recovery and growth for the industry, even amid challenges in maximizing revenue per visitor.