Sri Lanka’s tourism sector continues to thrive, with February 2025 earnings reaching USD 367.6 million, reinforcing its position as the third-largest foreign income generator after remittances and garments. This brings total earnings for the first two months of the year to USD 768.2 million, reflecting an 11.7% year-on-year increase.
Tourist arrivals remain strong, with 240,217 visitors recorded in February, up from 218,350 in 2024. By March 13, total arrivals for the year had reached 590,300, pushing Sri Lanka closer to its ambitious 3.0 million visitor target for 2025, which aims to generate USD 5.0 billion in revenue—surpassing the record 2.5 million arrivals and USD 4.4 billion earnings in 2018.
The country’s tourism appeal continues to grow, with TIME Magazine naming the Pekoe Trail—a 186-mile scenic walking route through Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands—among the World’s Greatest Places of 2025. Meanwhile, Conde Nast Traveller ranked Sri Lanka as the top family-friendly destination for the year.
With a destination marketing campaign set to launch later this month, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is well-positioned to break records and solidify its reputation as a premier global travel destination.
