Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has registered a notable turnaround in 2025, emerging from economic challenges to record one of its best years for international arrivals — with Indian travellers consistently leading the inbound tourism charts.
According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority’s latest data, the island nation welcomed a record approximately 2.36 million international visitors in 2025, surpassing figures not seen since before the pandemic. India stood out as the largest source market, contributing over 470,000 Indian tourists, representing more than 22 per cent of the total inbound visitors for the year. This marks a significant increase over previous years and reinforces India’s pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s tourism recovery and growth cycle.
This strong performance reflects a sustained travel appetite among Indian holidaymakers, facilitated by enhanced air connectivity and simplified travel arrangements between the two countries. Multiple flight routes, visa-ease programs and tourism promotion campaigns in key Indian cities have helped make Sri Lanka an attractive short-haul international destination for Indian travellers.
Monthly patterns also indicate that Indian tourists were the most frequent visitors throughout 2025. For example, in December alone, over 56,000 Indian arrivals were recorded — the highest monthly figure for the year — underscoring persistent winter demand from the Indian market.
Earlier in the year, Sri Lanka also reported that Indian travellers accounted for nearly 18.5 per cent of total arrivals in July 2025, indicating a steady leadership position across different travel seasons.
Industry insiders highlight that this trend is not only significant for sheer numbers but also carries economic implications for Sri Lanka’s hospitality, aviation, and travel services sectors. The resilience and resurgence of Indian visitor flows have provided crucial momentum to local hotels, tour operators and tourism-linked small businesses, particularly in coastal, heritage and recreational hubs across the island.
Overall, the data makes it clear that Indian tourists are not just frequent visitors but a driving force behind Sri Lanka’s inbound tourism revival — giving both destinations a strategic opportunity to deepen tourism partnerships and enhance traveller engagement into 2026 and beyond.
