“Sri Lanka is experiencing a significant rise in tourist arrivals, particularly from India, which has now secured the top spot.

“In the first three months of 2023, we welcomed 46,432 Indian tourists. With an ambitious promotional campaign underway, we are aiming to attract 2 million Indian tourists this year,” Sri Lanka Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said in a statement.

This increase in visitors has had a positive impact on tourism earnings, with Sri Lanka earning around USD 530 million in the first quarter of 2023, compared to USD 482.3 million in the same period last year, he said.“We expect to generate a total of USD 3 billion in tourism revenue this year,” the minister added.