Sri Lanka’s tourism revenues soar 59% in 10m

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry saw a 59 per cent revenue increase to over $2.5 billion in the first 10 months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to a state media report on Monday.

In October 2024, tourism revenue soared to $185.6 million, marking a 35 per cent increase from the previous year’s $136.7 million. The country received over 1.6 million tourists during the first 10 months of 2024, a 44 per cent rise year-on-year.

Tourism is a vital foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka, which aims to attract 2.3 million tourists in 2024 and 3 million in 2025. The strong performance of the tourism sector is a positive sign for the country’s economic recovery.

Attribution: Xinhua

Subediting: M. S. Salama