Sri Lanka recorded 200,000 UK visitors in 2025 – the first time since 2018 – marking a 22% year-on-year increase, and is continuing to welcome tourists following last month’s deadly cyclone.
The country is expecting 20,000 UK arrivals in December, up 12% compared to 2024.
The figures were announced yesterday (Wednesday 17 December) during a trade update by Sri Lanka Tourism representatives following Cyclone Ditwah, which killed more than 600 people when it hit on 27 November.
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in the UK Nimal Senadheera said: “We have seen great support from the UK, and despite the cyclone, the tourism sector has remained resilient.”
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority confirmed that hotels, national parks, and tourism are all fully open, and that many of the south-coast beach properties are at 100% occupancy, while the central hill hotels are also open.
The main road between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya was fully reopened this week.
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam said: “Tourists from the UK have extreme confidence in Sri Lanka and are travelling without any trouble. It makes our effort easier.
“We want the UK travellers to explore more destinations across Sri Lanka – the message to you is to promote the entire country.”
The Hotel Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) President Asoka Hettigoda said: “We are planning to launch a new marketing campaign in the next three months beyond the traditional offering. We want visitors to experience things such as cuisine, white-water rafting, glamping, for example. We have many areas to be explored.”
“We are more than ready to welcome more visitors – this is the best way to support the destination, and we have always known the British to be supportive of us. Our request is, make more reservations in the coming months, as we are ready.”
