Beyond the Ramayana Trail: Why Indian Tourists Matter More Than Ever to Sri Lanka
When Indian and Pakistani supporters packed Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium for a high-profile T20 World Cup clash, the scale of traveling fans was hard to miss. The crowd composition itself told a wider story: Indian travelers are becoming a defining force in Sri Lanka’s tourism landscape.
Tourism has been vital in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery after the 2022 economic crisis. It is now one of the fastest-reviving sources of foreign income. In 2022, arrivals dropped to 719,978. This generated $1.1 billion, or 5.2 percent of foreign exchange earnings. By 2025, arrivals climbed to 2.3 million as travel confidence gradually returned, and tourism revenue rose to $3.2 billion. This rebound has stabilized foreign reserves, supported jobs, and revived related sectors from aviation to hospitality.
Indian tourists are a key component of this growth, and they are quietly reshaping Sri Lanka’s tourism landscape. From propping up the national airline to redefining air connectivity, this market is driving the island’s economic recovery. They have also turned the country into a top honeymoon hotspot and are setting new trends for the sector.
Indian tourists have steadily increased their representation among Sri Lanka’s visitor arrivals over the past three years, reinforcing India’s position as the country’s largest source of tourists. Indian tourists accounted for 17 percent of total arrivals in 2022. By 2025, their share had risen to 22.5 percent, strengthening India’s position as Sri Lanka’s largest source market. India’s dominance is clear compared with other nations. In 2025, the United Kingdom was Sri Lanka’s second-largest source market at 9.5 percent, with 224,643 arrivals. Indian arrivals are now more than twice those from the next closest country.
Policy decisions and regional developments helped sustain this growth. In 2023, Sri Lanka introduced a 30-day free visa with double entry for seven countries, including India. This reduced travel costs and administrative barriers. In early 2024, diplomatic tensions emerged between India and the Maldives. Following the #BoycottMaldives campaign, many Indian travelers reconsidered their holiday plans. Sri Lanka capitalized on this shift by positioning itself as a convenient and affordable alternative. As 2026 begins, the Indian market remains the cornerstone of the island’s tourism recovery.
Air connectivity has been a decisive factor in sustaining tourism growth. This is especially true as Sri Lankan Airlines continues to face financial strain. The national carrier reported a loss of 2.73 billion Sri Lankan rupees in 2024-25. This reversed a profit of 7.9 billion rupees the previous year, representing a decline of approximately 134.6 percent. Despite these losses, the airline carries around 25 percent of all tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka. This proportion is driven primarily by demand from the Indian market.
This reliance is reflected in passenger composition. In 2025, India ranked as the top source market for Sri Lankan Airlines, with 200,141 passengers, accounting for around 37.6 percent of tourist arrivals. The data highlights a clear pattern. While long-haul markets remain important, Indian travelers provide volume, frequency, and relative stability for the national carrier.
Sri Lanka’s air connectivity has also evolved through the rapid expansion of Indian low-cost carriers, most notably IndiGo. In 2022, the Indian low-cost carrier accounted for only 4.9 percent of inbound traffic to Sri Lanka. As demand from Indian travelers increased, IndiGo expanded routes and flight frequencies, raising its market share to 6.6 percent in 2023 and 8.5 percent in 2024. By 2025, IndiGo captured 12 percent of total inbound tourist air traffic and is now one of the fastest-growing carriers serving the island. Its low-cost model and direct connectivity from multiple Indian cities have lowered travel costs to Sri Lanka. High-frequency short-haul services have also broadened access, particularly for first-time and price-sensitive tourists.
Indian media has played a key role in promoting Sri Lanka as a romantic and budget-friendly destination. Outlets such as NDTV and Hindustan Times have highlighted the island’s beaches, cultural experiences, and scenic towns. They frame it as a “home-vibe” getaway for couples. Sri Lanka is also rapidly emerging as a destination wedding location for the Indian market.
The impact of this coverage was evident in December 2025. Despite disruptions from Cyclone Ditwah, more than 56,000 Indian tourists visited the country. This accounted for nearly 45 percent of all arrivals that month. Additionally, TripAdvisor recognized Galle as one of its top five honeymoon destinations. Indian media narratives are influencing travel behavior, driving arrivals, and positioning Sri Lanka as a preferred short-haul romantic destination.
The importance of Indian tourism to Sri Lanka now extends beyond arrival volumes and revenue contribution. The market spans multiple segments, including mid-range leisure travel, short-break holidays, weddings and honeymoons, religious pilgrimages, and event-driven visits. This creates steady demand across hotels, airlines, transport, and local services. This pattern supports both high-frequency budget and mid-tier travel, while also generating periodic high-value spikes. A recent example was the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup fixture. The event drew large numbers of fans, including those arriving by private jet. This highlights the emerging role of sports and event tourism within the Indian market.
This story is more than a surge in arrivals; it is a fundamental shift in influence. Indian travelers are now shaping how Sri Lanka connects, markets, and packages its travel experiences. From low-cost air routes to honeymoon branding and event travel, their footprint is visible across the sector. Sri Lanka is no longer simply attracting Indian tourists; it is increasingly being shaped around them. How Sri Lanka manages this shift will define the next chapter of its tourism story.
