COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's tourism earnings increased modestly in 2025, even as the country recorded a notable rise in tourist arrivals, according to Central Bank of Sri Lanka data.
Earnings from tourism amounted to US$3.22 billion in 2025, compared to US$3.17 billion in 2024, recording a year-on-year growth of 1.6 per cent. During the same period, tourist arrivals rose to more than 2.36 million in 2025, up from 2.05 million arrivals in 2024, reflecting a 15.1 per cent year-on-year increase.
Based on these figures, average earnings per tourist declined in 2025. Tourism earnings per visitor were estimated at approximately US$1,363 in 2025, compared to about US$1,543 per tourist in 2024.
The data suggest that while Sri Lanka attracted a larger number of tourists in 2025, the increase in arrivals did not translate into a proportionate rise in foreign exchange earnings from the sector.
Tourism remains one of Sri Lanka's key foreign exchange earners alongside workers' remittances and merchandise exports, at a time when the country continues to focus on rebuilding external buffers. - Xinhua
