Author: Faraz Shauketaly
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Tourist Arrivals Are Up – But Is Sri Lanka Recovering or Just Counting Heads?
Sri Lanka recorded a 4.2% increase in tourist arrivals in December 2025, a figure widely cited as evidence of economic recovery. The narrative is simple and appealing: more visitors equal better economy. Reality is far more nuanced. Tourism numbers alone tell little about the sector’s health. Duration of stay, expenditure per visitor, and geographic distribution