COLOMBO, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka is aiming to attract over 250,000 tourists each month as part of its broader plan to welcome 3 million visitors in 2025, a senior tourism official announced on Wednesday.

During a press conference, Buddhika Hewawasam, chairman of both the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), said the tourism ministry is launching a global marketing campaign in April, alongside a series of local initiatives designed to boost tourist spending and expand accommodation options.

Hewawasam said that they are focused on raising the average daily expenditure of a tourist to 200 U.S. dollars, up from the current average of 171 dollars.

The SLTPB is also prioritizing infrastructure development, particularly by expanding accommodation facilities in key travel zones. Hewawasam said Sri Lanka currently has 26 designated tourism zones, a number expected to increase to 42 in the future.

Efforts are also underway to formalize the country's informal tourism sector. "There are over 40,000 informal service providers offering accommodation. In comparison, only around 8,000 to 9,000 are formally registered," Hewawasam said.

Tourism is one of Sri Lanka's main foreign revenue generators. The country earned approximately 3.17 billion U.S. dollars from tourism in 2024. Enditem

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