Deficient marketing, regulation cited over lower tourist spend View(s):By Wasantha RamanayakeSri Lanka’s tourism sector saw tourist arrivals rise in 2025, but average spending per tourist dropped, according to official data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Contributory factors such as exchange rate volatility and the global economy, decreased tourist spending per day worsening the gap, said Professor Suranga de Silva of the Colombo University. Lower tourist spending stems from more low spending tourists and short stays coupled with economic pressures and competition from Thailand and Vietnam, says Professor Suranga de Silva. Russian tourists spend an average of US$200 only second to the daily average spending of British tourists. The average stay of the Russian tourists is 10 days versus five days for Indian tourists, they said.

Source: Sunday Times March 01, 2026 18:16 UTC