FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – Sri Lanka is actively seeking to enhance its foreign exchange revenue through the hospitality industry by attracting high-end tourists for meetings, exhibitions, weddings, and sports events, according to Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe.
Despite missing both arrival and revenue targets last year, Sri Lanka achieved a record 2.3 million arrivals in 2025, marking a 15.1 percent increase compared to 2024. Additionally, the country generated foreign exchange revenue of US$3.2 billion, reflecting a 1.6 percent rise.
Minister Ranasinghe, addressing reporters at a media briefing in Colombo on Thursday, emphasized their focus on promoting MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), weddings, and sports tourism. “Our promotions and product development will focus on upscale offerings,” he stated.
Ranasinghe expressed confidence in the potential success of upcoming initiatives, particularly highlighting an interim campaign poised to commence shortly. “We are launching an interim campaign aligned with our global campaign, with a budget of nearly 2 billion rupees, targeting 15 markets through PR and digital efforts,” he explained.
He further noted, “We are focusing on high-value market segments. With these initiatives, we are confident that the tourism sector can significantly contribute to the economic growth of the country.”
Sri Lanka has set an ambitious target of 3 million tourist arrivals and US$4 billion in revenue for the current year. The deputy minister also mentioned plans to increase spending per tourist in five-star hotels from US$300 to US$500 through key investments.
As of February 15, 2026, the country has welcomed 436,600 visitors. (Colombo/February 20/2026)
