Indian arrivals drive best-ever Sept. tourism numbers

THE tourism industry recorded its highestever September arrivals this year, driven largely by Indian visitors, boosting optimism for a strong winter season despite concerns over falling short of the ambitious 2025 target.

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Sri Lanka welcomes 158,971 tourists in September, up 30.2% YoY; surpasses previous high of 149,087 in 2018

Surge led by 7% month-on-month rise in Indian arrivals; remains top market in September trailed by UK and Russia

Misses monthly target for ninth consecutive month, as September falls short by 26,072 visitors YTD arrivals reach over 1.72 m, up 14.2% YoY, but 0.37% lower compared to benchmark 2018

SL must attract nearly 875,000 tourists in last quarter to meet 2.6 m revised arrivals target

As per the latest data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), 158,971 tourists arrived in September 2025, surpassing the previous record of 149,087 in 2018 and marking a 30.2% year-on-year (YoY) rise in arrivals.

The surge was led by a 7% month-on-month rise in Indian arrivals, cementing India's role as Sri Lanka's top source market.

On average, Sri Lanka welcomed 5,299 tourists daily in September, a 30.13% YoY increase. India accounted for the lion's share with 49,697 visitors (31.3%), followed by the UK with 10,752 tourists (6.8%), China with 10,527 (6.6%), Germany with 9,344 (5.9%) and Australia with 9,105 visitors (5.7%).

In addition, tourists were also received from France, Bangladesh, Spain, the Netherlands and Japan.