COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lanka's tourism sector has staged a remarkable recovery in recent years, but the country's focus must now shift beyond simply attracting more visitors and towards creating a higher-value tourism industry that generates broader economic benefits, saod Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.
Addressing a tourism-related forum, the Minister highlighted the strong growth in tourist arrivals since the country's economic crisis, noting that Sri Lanka welcomed 1.49 million visitors in 2023 before that figure climbed to more than 2.05 million in 2024.
The upward trend continued in 2025, with arrivals reaching 2.36 million, while visitor numbers had already reached approximately 1.7 million by the end of September this year.
While describing the figures as encouraging, Herath emphasized that success should not be measured by arrival numbers alone.
According to the Minister, Sri Lanka's future tourism strategy must focus on attracting visitors who stay longer, spend more, travel beyond traditional tourism hotspots, and contribute more significantly to local economies across the country.
He stressed that tourism growth should also create opportunities throughout the year rather than being concentrated in seasonal travel periods.
As part of that strategy, Herath identified Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism as a key area of opportunity for Sri Lanka.
He noted that MICE tourism creates economic activity far beyond conference venues, generating business for transport providers, restaurants, technology companies, event organizers, entertainment services, local enterprises and a wide range of supporting industries.
The Foreign Minister said Sri Lanka possesses many of the ingredients needed to become a competitive destination for international conferences and business events.
These include the country's strategic location in the Indian Ocean, expanding international connectivity, established hospitality sector, diverse accommodation options, modern venues, rich cultural heritage and internationally recognized natural attractions.
However, Herath argued that Sri Lanka's greatest advantage lies in its ability to offer experiences that go far beyond traditional beach tourism.
He said a visitor attending a conference in Sri Lanka can participate in business meetings during the morning, visit ancient historical sites during the afternoon, explore wildlife and natural attractions, and enjoy Sri Lanka's cuisine and hospitality by evening.
According to him, that combination of business and experience creates a unique tourism proposition that few competing destinations can match.
The Minister also highlighted the broader significance of tourism for the country's international engagement, stating that every visitor who travels to Sri Lanka has the potential to become an ambassador for the country and strengthen connections between Sri Lanka and the wider world.
