In March 2025, Sri Lanka saw an influx of 229,298 visitors, bringing the total number of tourists for the first quarter of the year to 722,276, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
Throughout the month, weekly arrivals consistently exceeded 50,000, with the highest single-day count recorded on March 28, when 8,619 tourists arrived in the country.
India continued to be the largest source of visitors, contributing 17.1% to the total March arrivals, with 39,212 Indian tourists. Other key markets included Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.
The tourism sector in Sri Lanka experienced a notable 14% increase in overall arrivals during the first quarter of 2025, compared to the previous year. This also marked a significant leap, surpassing the Q1 figures from 2018. March’s arrivals showed a 10% rise compared to 2024, though they fell short of both the monthly target and the record set in 2019.
This growth in tourism signals a positive outlook for Sri Lanka’s travel industry in 2025, despite ongoing challenges.