COLOMBO, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka is projected to earn 3 billion U.S. dollars in tourism revenue in 2024, Deputy Director General of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Upali Ratnayake, announced in Colombo on Monday.
He noted that the first quarter of 2025 is also expected to be a strong period for tourism, based on existing bookings and current trends.
Ratnayake reported that over 2 million tourists have visited Sri Lanka this year, marking the first time tourist arrivals have exceeded this figure since 2018.
The average daily spending of a tourist has risen to 181 dollars, compared to 174 dollars in 2023, he added.
Tourism is the third-largest foreign revenue generator for Sri Lanka in 2024, following workers' remittances and the apparel industry, Ratnayake said. ■