Tourism authorities are targeting $10 billion in annual tourism earnings by 2030 as they begin work on a new five-year plan for the sector.
The Tourism Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism will start work today, August 31, on two key tourism planning exercises.
One will develop a Global Promotional Campaign Road Map. The other will prepare the National Tourism Strategic Plan for 2026–2030.
The plans will set the direction for tourism promotion and development over the next five years.
Tourism Targets
The Government has set clear targets for the sector.
For 2026, it wants to attract 2.7 million tourists and generate $4.2 billion in tourism revenue.
The targets increase in 2027.
Authorities want to attract more than 3 million visitors and generate $5 billion in tourism income that year.
By 2030, the Government wants tourism earnings to reach $10 billion a year.
That would require tourism revenue to grow by about 138% from the 2026 target.
New Direction for Tourism
The new five-year plan will cover the wider direction of the tourism sector from 2026 to 2030.
The promotional road map will focus on how Sri Lanka is marketed to international visitors.
Together, the two plans are intended to help authorities work towards the visitor and revenue targets set for the sector.
The World Bank’s Grant Facility for Project Preparation (GFPP) is supporting the work.
The launch and press briefing will take place at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM).
The immediate targets are 2.7 million arrivals and $4.2 billion in revenue in 2026. The longer-term goal is to reach $10 billion in annual tourism earnings by 2030.
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Last modified: August 31, 2026
