Indian Tourists Lead Sri Lanka's July 2025 Arrivals

Indians are breaking Old Stereotypes

For years, Indian tourists were often dismissed as low-spending travelers, but recent tourism data from Sri Lanka suggests this view is outdated and misleading.

According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the country welcomed 200,244 tourists in July 2025, a 6.6% increase compared to July 2024. Of these, 37,128 visitors were from India, making up 18.5% of the total — the largest share among all countries.

They were followed by:

United Kingdom: 23,475

Netherlands: 15,556

China: 12,982

France: 11,059

The total number of arrivals in the first seven months of 2025 stands at 1,368,288. Indian nationals again topped the list, with 279,122 arrivals, followed by:

Russia: 131,377

United Kingdom: 115,470

This trend marks a shift in the narrative surrounding Indian tourists, who are now emerging as a crucial part of Sri Lanka’s tourism recovery and economic growth.