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Sri Lanka Plans to Welcome 3 Million Tourists in 2026
04 Jan, 2026
Sri Lanka is targeting 3 million tourist arrivals in 2026, backed by increased marketing efforts, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Buddika Hewawasam said, following an estimated 2.4 million visitors in 2025.
“We are aiming at reaching 3 million tourists,” Hewawasam said in a video statement, adding that tourism authorities are also eyeing 5 billion dollars in revenue, a goal he acknowledged would be challenging.
Sri Lanka had initially set a 2025 target of 3 million visitors but later revised it to 2.4 million. Arrivals rose toward the end of December despite disruptions caused by Cyclone Ditwah earlier in the month.
Hewawasam noted that this year’s growth came with minimal marketing expenditure. “We did not do much marketing. We did not do global campaigns or positioning. We achieved this number because we rightly targeted particular market segments,” he said.
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