Sri Lanka Tourism Surges in Early May 2025 with 21.53% YoY Growth

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has kicked off May 2025 with a significant boost, recording a 21.53% year-on-year (YoY) increase in tourist arrivals from May 1 to May 13 compared to the same period in 2024. According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the country welcomed 59,755 tourists during this period, up from 49,167 arrivals in 2024.

The surge was driven by a strong influx of visitors from India, who accounted for 31.5% of total arrivals, contributing 18,812 tourists. Other key source markets included Germany with 4,447 arrivals (7.4%), the United Kingdom with 4,256 arrivals (7.1%), China with 3,930 arrivals (6.6%), and Australia with 2,817 arrivals (4.7%). Arrivals from Russia totaled 1,912, with no charter flights operating this summer.

Year-to-Date Performance

From January 1 to May 13, 2025, Sri Lanka recorded 956,639 tourist arrivals, reflecting a 14.73% YoY growth compared to 833,818 visitors in the same period of 2024. India led the year-to-date figures with 175,871 arrivals, followed by Russia (109,005) and the United Kingdom (91,309).

With these figures, Sri Lanka has achieved approximately 32% of its 2025 target of three million tourists. To meet this goal, the country needs to attract 2,043,361 more visitors in the remaining months of the year. Industry analysts note that the proposed free-visa travel initiative and a global promotion campaign, which are yet to be fully implemented, could further boost arrivals.