Between January and early June, the island welcomed 1,051,096 international guests. Notably, 210,074 of these were from India, making it the top source of foreign arrivals. Following India were Russia with 110,818 visitors and the United Kingdom with 98,158, as reported by SLTDA on Wednesday (June 11).
The tourism sector seems to be experiencing a steady recovery, with 132,919 international arrivals noted in May alone—an 18.5 percent increase compared to May 2024, according to data shared by local news outlet Adaderana.
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The trend persisted into June, with 21,293 tourists arriving in the first five days of the month. Once again, India led the pack, providing 6,014 travellers—accounting for 28.2 percent of the early June arrivals.
Other significant contributors during this timeframe included 1,884 visitors from the United Kingdom, 1,277 from China, and 1,173 from Bangladesh, as reported by Adaderana.
The statistics reflect the beneficial impact of Sri Lanka’s ongoing visa-free entry initiative for select nations, designed to rejuvenate its tourism-dependent economy, which has encountered various challenges in recent years.
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Since October 1, 2024, Sri Lanka has been offering visa-free entry to citizens of 35 countries, including India, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and Russia, among others. This initiative was established as a six-month pilot to stimulate tourism and assist the nation’s recovering economy. It permits a 30-day stay without the usual visa fee, enhancing accessibility and appeal for travellers to Sri Lanka, particularly for Indian tourists, who have consistently been the largest segment of international visitors.
