The number of foreign tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka grew by 18.18% year-on-year to 248,592 in December 2024, following a 21.6% increase in the previous month. Among key markets, India (21.3%) remained the top tourist source market, followed by Russia (14.2%), the UK (7.5%), Germany (5.9%), Australia (5.3%), China (4.0%), the US (3.3%), the Maldives (2.8%), France (2.5%), and Poland (2.5%). For the full year of 2024, the number of foreign tourists soared by 38.07% year-on-year to 2,053,465, marking a new record with the highest number of annual tourist arrivals since 2018. However, the latest numbers fell short, with a gap of 126,535 compared to the conservative target of 2.18 million visitors in 2024 and 310,010 below the optimistic projection of 2,363,475 visitors, due to the political climate, including elections and associated uncertainties. On a monthly basis, foreign tourist arrivals jumped 35.0% in December. source: Ceylon Tourist Board

Tourist Arrivals in Sri Lanka increased to 184158 in November from 135907 in October of 2024. Tourist Arrivals in Sri Lanka averaged 55996.55 from 1977 until 2024, reaching an all time high of 253169.00 in December of 2018 and a record low of 0.00 in April of 2020. This page provides - Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on January of 2025.




Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2024-12-16 11:50 PM
Tourist Arrivals YoY
Nov 21.6% 24.5%
2025-01-09 02:45 AM
Tourist Arrivals YoY
Dec 18.18% 21.6%
2025-02-07 02:00 AM
Tourist Arrivals YoY
Jan 18.18%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -502.00 -544.00 USD Million Nov 2024
Current Account 303.00 432.00 USD Million Sep 2024
Current Account to GDP 1.80 -2.00 percent of GDP Dec 2023
Exports 994.00 1158.00 USD Million Nov 2024
Exports by Category
Exports by Country
External Debt 56594.49 55996.47 USD Million Sep 2024
Foreign Direct Investment 45.40 384.25 USD Million Sep 2024
Gold Reserves 0.47 0.47 Tonnes Mar 2024
Imports 1496.00 1702.00 USD Million Nov 2024
Imports by Category
Imports by Country
Remittances 530.10 587.70 USD Million Nov 2024
Terms of Trade 90.35 87.14 points Nov 2024
Terrorism Index 3.07 4.84 Points Dec 2023
Tourism Revenues 272.90 185.60 USD Million Nov 2024
Tourist Arrivals YoY 248592.00 184158.00 Dec 2024

Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
248592.00 184158.00 253169.00 0.00 1977 - 2024 Monthly


News Stream
Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals Below Official Target in 2024
The number of foreign tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka grew by 18.18% year-on-year to 248,592 in December 2024, following a 21.6% increase in the previous month. Among key markets, India (21.3%) remained the top tourist source market, followed by Russia (14.2%), the UK (7.5%), Germany (5.9%), Australia (5.3%), China (4.0%), the US (3.3%), the Maldives (2.8%), France (2.5%), and Poland (2.5%). For the full year of 2024, the number of foreign tourists soared by 38.07% year-on-year to 2,053,465, marking a new record with the highest number of annual tourist arrivals since 2018. However, the latest numbers fell short, with a gap of 126,535 compared to the conservative target of 2.18 million visitors in 2024 and 310,010 below the optimistic projection of 2,363,475 visitors, due to the political climate, including elections and associated uncertainties. On a monthly basis, foreign tourist arrivals jumped 35.0% in December.
2025-01-09
Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals Surge 21.6% in November
The number of foreign tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka soared by 21.6% year-on-year to 184,158 in November 2024, following a 24.5% jump in the previous month. Despite a conservative target of 182,693 for November, the latest figures exceeded expectations, showcasing robust demand and a positive trend in the sector’s growth this year. Among key markets, India (22.3%) remained the top tourist source market, followed by Russia (15.8%), the UK (7.0%), Germany (6.8%), China (4.5%), Australia (4.3%), France (3.6%), the Netherlands (1.8%), and Bangladesh (1.8%). For the first eleven months of the year, the number of foreign tourists surged by 41.3% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, reaching 1,804,873. On a monthly basis, foreign tourist arrivals jumped 35.5%.
2024-12-17
Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals Surge 24.95% in October
The number of foreign tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka surged by 24.95% year-on-year to 135,907 in October 2024 from a 9.11% rise in the previous month. Among key markets, India (26.8%) remained the top tourist source market, followed by Russia (7.6%), UK (7.5%), Germany (6.8%), China (6.1%), Australia (4.8%), France (3.4%), Bangladesh (2.7%), Spain (2.5%), and the US (2.3%). For the first ten months of the year, the number of foreign tourists jumped by 44% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, reaching 1,620,715.
2024-11-07