Sri Lanka has announced an ambitious goal to attract four million international visitors and generate US$8 billion in tourism revenue annually by 2030. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya revealed the target during the country's 2026 World Tourism Day celebrations, held on September 27 under the theme 'Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.'
The target marks a significant increase from recent figures. In 2024, Sri Lanka welcomed about 2.5 million tourists and earned approximately US$3.1 billion. In 2025, arrivals reached 2,362,521, with tourism revenue around US$3.2 billion.
To support this growth, the 2026 national budget includes about US$18.9 million for international digital marketing and tourism promotion. An additional US$11 million is allocated for environmentally friendly projects and cultural heritage programs. Airport infrastructure will receive US$3.1 million for modernization, and US$1.6 million is set for tourism-related human resource development.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the strategy should not focus solely on increasing visitor numbers but also on contributing to wider economic development, environmental sustainability, and community benefits. The government plans to leverage digital tools and artificial intelligence for promotion and management, and encourage youth to pursue tourism careers through school clubs and education reforms.
