Sri Lanka Right Now: The State of the Island in 2025

Sri Lanka's tourism recovery has been one of the more remarkable stories in Asian travel over the past two years. After the combined blows of the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019, the pandemic, and the economic crisis of 2022, the country went through a period where the visitor numbers collapsed and the industry contracted sharply. What has happened since is a genuine recovery, driven by both returning visitors and a new generation of travellers discovering the island for the first time.

The numbers are back above pre-2019 levels and the profile of the visitor has changed. The average length of stay has increased. The average spend per visitor has increased. The destinations being chosen by visitors have diversified beyond the classic triangle of Colombo, Galle, and Ella: the north is receiving serious visitor attention, the east coast has become a genuine circuit, and the less-visited west coast and Knuckles region are on the radar of travellers who have done their research.

What has improved: the hospitality infrastructure has been upgraded significantly across the country. Properties that were overdue for renovation used the quiet years to do the work and reopened better than before. New properties have opened in locations that were previously underserved. The food scene in Colombo and Galle has matured into something that can hold its own by any regional standard.

What to know before you visit right now: book accommodation well in advance for the November to March peak season, particularly in Galle Fort and the better properties around Yala and Ella. Prices have increased from the crisis-era lows but remain very competitive by regional standards. The island is busy, confident, and in good spirits. This is a good time to be here.