FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – Sri Lanka is setting its sights on achieving a foreign exchange revenue of US$4 billion from tourism this year, according to Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe. Last year, the country fell short of its ambitious target of US$5 billion in revenue.
During a media briefing held in Colombo on Thursday (19), Ranasinghe expressed the country’s goal of welcoming 3 million tourists this year, aiming for a revenue exceeding US$4 billion. This target represents a 30 percent increase from the 2.3 million arrivals recorded in 2025.
Sri Lanka’s tourism strategy focuses on highlighting the nation’s diverse landscapes to visitors, which include beautiful beaches, lush highlands, mountainous regions, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
At its peak in 2018, tourism contributed 4.9 percent to Sri Lanka’s total gross domestic product. The country is now concentrating on attracting high-spending tourists in 2026 to reach its US$4 billion revenue target.
(Colombo/February 20/2026)
