Tourism & Leisure

Approx. Target $8bn revenue by 2025

Approx. 4M tourist arrivals by 2025

Sector specific 400,000+ talent pool

Blessed with natural and cultural endowments throughout the island, Sri Lanka is home to a rich and diverse Tourism & Leisure industry which is the economy’s third largest foreign exchange earner. Accordingly, the government has positioned tourism as a central pillar of the economy which is poised to offer great growth and investment potential. The focus is on investments that would provide world-class visitor experiences leveraging on established sub-sectors as well as new offerings.

Potential areas for investment

  • Tourist Accommodation & Services (Hotels / Resorts / Villas/ Higher-end restaurants)
  • Leisure & Recreational (Golf Course, Entertainment Complexes, Theme Parks, Tourist
  • Shopping Complexes, Eco-Lodges, Camping, Whale & Dolphin Watching, water Sports)
  • Adventure & Eco Tourism (Adventure parks)
  • Transportation (Yacht Marina, Coastal Ferry Services, Cruise Lines)
  • Skill Development: Hotel / Hospitality Training Institutes

Global players in Sri Lanka

Global Rankings

Tourists Arrivals (Mn) (2011 - 2020)

Source : SLTDA 

Percentage Distribution of Tourists by Purpose of Visit 2020

Source : SLTDA 

Number of Establishments

Source : SLTDA 

Employment distribution by Establishment (2020)

Source : SLTDA 

Top ten source markets (January –December 2021)