The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism

¶ 01 (i) Year | Tourist Arrivals | Earnings (US$ Mn) 2015 | 1,798,380 | 2,981.1 2016 | 2,050,832 | 3,518.5 2017 | 2,116,407 | 3,924.9 2018 | 2,333,796 | 4,380.6 2019 | 1,913,702 | 3,606.9 2020 | 507,704 | 682.5 2021 | 194,495 | 506.9 2022 | 719,978 | 1,136.3 2023 | 1,487,303 | 2,362.5 2024 | 2,362,521 | 3,219.0

¶ 02 (ii) Given in Annex 01. Placed in the Library.

¶ 03 (iii) Top five source markets: 2018: 1. India 316,247 2. China 214,783 3. United Kingdom 188,159 4. Germany 156,888 5. France 106,183

¶ 04 2019: 1. India 355,002 2. United Kingdom 198,776 3. China 167,863 4. Germany 134,899 5. France 87,623

¶ 05 2021: 1. India 89,357 2. Russia 51,594 3. United Kingdom 35,455 4. Germany 34,507 5. China 6,421

¶ 06 2022: 1. India 123,004 2. Russia 80,172 3. United Kingdom 85,187 4. Germany 35,542 5. France 35,482

¶ 07 (iv) There has been no significant change in the top five markets since 2022.

¶ 08 (v) Emerging markets and percentage change (2022-2025): - United States: 22,306 → 46,344 → 59,532 → 65,973 (up 196%) - Canada: 20,845 → 49,944 → 42,112 → 46,133 (up 121%) - Netherlands: 11,087 → 29,056 → 50,171 → 64,164 (up 479%) - Ukraine: 14,917 → 5,712 → 7,991 → 18,412 (up 23% vs. 2022; recovery from 2023) - Switzerland: 13,260 → 23,561 → 29,829 → 33,624 (up 153%) - Spain, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark also show notable increases. Details in Annex 01. Placed in the Library.

¶ 09 (vi) Average expenditure and length of stay: Year | Avg. spend per day (USD) | Avg. length of stay 2022 | 164.40 | 9.34 nights 2023 | 164.40 | 8.44 nights 2024 | 181.15 | 8.42 nights 2025 | 148.26 | 8.29 nights

¶ 10 (vii) Promotional expenditure (Rs.): 2015 | 786,924,530 2016 | 844,064,369 2017 | 1,090,998,703 2018 | 1,630,389,819 2019 | 2,331,018,915 2020 | 489,344,641 2021 | 380,610,855 2022 | 666,592,512

¶ 11 (viii) Measurable outcomes are tourist arrivals and earnings (see (i)). To promote Sri Lanka globally, sustained promotion is required. Despite such efforts, arrivals were affected by global factors such as COVID-19, economic downturns and regional conflicts.

¶ 12 Short-term plans: The Treasury has allocated Rs. 1,000 million in 2026 (Annex 02). Under this, 33 projects costing Rs. 800 million covering all provinces are planned, including: - Restoration of Mannar Dutch Fort - Development of Kammalawella Road, Puttalam - Pasikudah Blue Flag Project - Development of historical sites at Panduwasnuwara and Yapahuwa - Development around Sembuwatta Lake, Matale - Development of marine tourism in Mirissa Additionally: - Arugam Bay Sunset View Park (Rs. 70 million) - Tourism infrastructure projects in Jaffna (Casuarina Beach, Karainagar, Kayts) costing Rs. 130 million

¶ 13 Medium-term plans: 2027-2029 plan submitted to the Department of National Planning for recommendations, with 49 projects totaling Rs. 2,752 million selected by provincial councils, district secretariats and DCCs (Annex 03). Includes: - Destination development for Sigiriya-Dambulla - Wasgamuwa–Knuckles tourism area development - Hiniduma mist zone development - Restoration of Doric Bungalow, Mannar - Development of Batticaloa Dutch Fort and eco-tourism projects Also, a Centralized E-Ticketing Platform approved by the Department of National Planning with Rs. 187.121 million allocated, and a Beira Lake development project concept (Rs. 2,500 million) submitted for recommendation.

¶ 14 Long-term plans: Under a World Bank grant, consultancy is being procured to prepare the 2026-2030 sector strategic action plan. Separately, Rs. 50 million is being utilized to strengthen institutional capacity in the sector.

¶ 15 (ix) Last 5 years’ performance analysis of Tourism Development Fund and related income sources is provided (table placed in the Library).

¶ 16 (0) Not applicable.