Sri Lanka targets five million tourists and US$10 billion in revenue by 2030

Sri Lanka aims to attract five million tourists, generate US$10 billion in tourism revenue and expand the industry’s workforce to 800,000 by 2030, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said on Friday.

She outlined the targets under the Government’s National Tourism Vision for 2030 while addressing the 45th graduation ceremony of the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management at the BMICH in Colombo.

Amarasuriya said the tourism industry had shown strong resilience despite repeated setbacks, including Cyclone Ditwah, and had become an important driver of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.

Sri Lanka earned about US$3.2 billion from tourism in 2025, while tourist arrivals exceeded 1.3 million between January and July 2026, she said.

Tourism currently supports more than 429,000 direct and indirect jobs, contributing significantly to household incomes and local communities.

The Prime Minister said achieving the 2030 targets would require more than technical skills. The industry needed professionals who were environmentally responsible, ethical, adaptable and committed to high-quality service, she said.

She also praised the institute for creating opportunities for people with disabilities to enter the tourism industry.

Amarasuriya called for safer and more supportive workplaces to increase women’s participation in tourism and build a more balanced workforce.

Established in 1964 as the Ceylon Hotel School, the institute has trained tourism and hospitality professionals for more than six decades.

The Prime Minister presented awards and certificates to students who completed their courses.

Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe, Tourism Ministry Secretary Dheera Hettiarachchi, SLITHM Chairman Wasantha Manthripala, diplomats, staff members, graduates and their families attended the ceremony.