From January to early June, Sri Lanka welcomed 1,051,096 international travelers. Notably, 210,074 were from India, establishing it as the largest source of foreign tourists. Following India, Russia contributed 110,818 visitors, with the United Kingdom adding 98,158, as reported by the SLTDA on Wednesday (June 11).
The tourism sector seems to be on a path to recovery, with 132,919 international arrivals recorded in May alone—a notable 18.5 percent rise compared to May 2024, as reported by local news outlet Adaderana.
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This trend continued into June, with 21,293 tourists arriving in the first five days of the month. India again led the contributions, sending 6,014 travelers, which represents 28.2 percent of early June arrivals.
Other significant contributors during this time included 1,884 visitors from the United Kingdom, 1,277 from China, and 1,173 from Bangladesh, as reported by Adaderana.
The data illustrates the beneficial effects of Sri Lanka’s ongoing visa-free entry program for select countries, designed to rejuvenate its tourism-dependent economy, which has experienced numerous challenges in recent years.
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Since October 1, 2024, Sri Lanka has been providing visa-free entry to citizens from 35 countries, including India, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, Russia, and more. This initiative was launched as a six-month pilot program aimed at enhancing tourism and bolstering the nation’s recovering economy. The policy permits a 30-day stay without the typical visa fee, making travel to Sri Lanka more inviting and accessible, particularly for Indian tourists, who have traditionally been the largest group of international visitors to the island.
