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Photo Credit: Galle Fort Hotels by Island Life Sri Lanka. Island Life
Tourist arrivals reached 2.17 million by December 11, pushing Sri Lanka past last year’s total. The bigger goal, though, was to edge closer to the 2018 peak of 2.3 million, and much will depend on how many travelers arrive in the last stretch of December.
Sri Lanka is trying to steady its tourism sector after Cyclone Ditwah tore through the island, forcing cancellations during what was supposed to be a strong start to the December travel season. The cyclone disrupted one of the country’s most important industries at a sensitive time. But the government and tourism authorities say that most parts of the island are now operating normally.
At the Ceylon Chamber Economic Summit last week, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya urged visitors to stick with their holiday plans. She said tourists should “not cancel their travel plans to Sri Lanka” and asked them to rethink any changes, explaining that while some regions are still recovering, many destinations remain open and ready to welcome travelers.
As of December 11, Sri Lanka had recorded 2.17 million tourist arrivals for 2025, surpassing last year’s total of 2.05 million. In the first 11 days of December alone, about 70,000 visitors arrived.
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Tags: asia monthly , india outbound , sri lanka , srilankan airlines
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Following Cyclone Ditwah, Sri Lanka's tourism sector is rebounding, with most regions open and only some inland and hillside destinations still restricted. Tourist arrivals have already surpassed last year's figures, hotel bookings are recovering quickly, and air travel has returned to normal operations. Authorities have offered support to stranded visitors through visa extensions and flexible airline policies, and demand for travel to Sri Lanka remains strong heading into the new year.
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