Tourist arrivals grow 21.8% in 26 days of October, attracting 137,876 tourists

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector demonstrated continued year-on-year growth in October, welcoming 137,876 tourists in the first 26 days of the month.

This figure represents a robust 21.8 percent increase, compared to the 113,189 arrivals recorded during the equivalent period in 2024.

This positive monthly performance has contributed to a cumulative total of 1,863,370 tourist arrivals for the year as of October 26, 2025. On a year-to-date basis, the industry has seen a 16.6 percent expansion from the 1,597,997 arrivals registered by the same date last year.

However, despite this steady growth, an analysis of recently published growth scenarios by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) suggests the country is facing challenges in meeting its full-year targets.

The SLTDA’s 2025 projections outline three potential outcomes: a ‘Lower Scenario’ of 2.415 million arrivals, a ‘Conservative Scenario’ of 2.676 million and an ‘Optimistic Scenario’ of 3.0 million.

With the current year-to-date total at 1.86 million, Sri Lanka is tracking behind the pace required to meet these goals. The 137,876 arrivals recorded in the first 26 days of October are lagging the full-month projection of 162,562 set for the Lower Scenario and the 176,381 projected for the Conservative Scenario. Given this trajectory, Sri Lanka appears likely to fall short of the 2.676 million Conservative target and will need a significant surge in November and December to meet even the 2.415 million Lower Scenario target.

India continues to be the primary engine of this growth, dominating the arrival figures. In the first 26 days of October, India accounted for 41,095 tourists, representing a 29.8 percent share of all arrivals.

Other key markets for the month included the United Kingdom, with 11,033 tourists (8 percent share), China (9,599 tourists, 7 percent share), the Russian Federation (8,507 tourists, 6.2 percent share) and Germany (7,956 tourists, 5.8 percent share).

This market dominance is reflected in the year-to-date data as well. From January 01 to October 26, 2025, arrivals from India totalled 416,387, making it the largest contributor to the 1,863,370 total arrivals.

The top five for the year are rounded out by the United Kingdom (172,926), Russian Federation (130,651), Germany (114,944) and China (111,189). (NF)

(Source - Dailymirror)