Director of Classic Travel Sabry Bahaudeen said on a recent edition of LMDtv that tourism has rebounded in Sri Lanka. He added that outbound travel has also grown in recent times.

Bahaudeen noted: “Many airlines are operating in Sri Lanka and their increasing frequency has contributed to a high traveller count. And since the Sri Lankan Rupee is stronger, airline ticket prices have come down drastically.”

“Sri Lankan travellers have bucket lists that they want to tick off,” he asserted, adding that many seem to be making up for the opportunities lost during the last few years due to the pandemic and then the economic crisis.

The pilgrimage segment is seeing a massive comeback with high demand for destinations such as Mecca and Bodh Gaya.

Bahaudeen explained: “We have a lot of air connections with India since multiple carriers fly there – including full-service and budget airlines. Visas can also be obtained electronically now and are valid for a year. So we find that some people who may have visited Bodh Gaya once a year previously now visit multiple times.”

Increasing local hotel rates is another impetus for Sri Lankans to travel overseas on holiday.

He elaborated: “People travel to countries where they can plan and budget for a reasonable package. Dubai is one of the main hubs that Sri Lankans travel to. Since a person can book a hotel room for a very reasonable sum and there are plenty of things to do in Dubai, many people are going there on holiday.”

Concerts are another magnet for travellers – especially millennials. “Concerts are selling out all over the world and Sri Lankans are willing to pay any price to attend them. There’s a huge market movement towards this kind of entertainment,” he revealed.

Similar trends are seen for events such as Formula One races. “This is a repeat segment of travellers,” he noted, adding that “watching Formula One is something of an addiction, and travellers who go for these will remain in the destination until the last race.”

Bahaudeen also observed that “golfing overseas is another growing market because a lot of Sri Lankans in the 40-45 age group consider the sport to be the next step in their lives. And they travel to play golf in locations such as Thailand and Jakarta, where there are excellent golf courses.”

Thailand has always been a preferred destination for Sri Lankans, he said: “Today, people are seeing much more of the country – rather than only Bangkok, which was the case previously. There are also new affordable places of interest such as the Phi Phi Islands.”

The attraction of Thailand has increased further because Sri Lankans can now obtain visas on arrival. Outbound travel from Sri Lanka also includes destinations in Europe. This segment has massive potential in spite of restrictions pertaining to obtaining visas.

But he noted that many of those travelling to Europe, Australia and Canada are mostly doing so to visit family and friends rather than simply as tourists.

Bahaudeen also pointed out that there is a tendency for many Sri Lankans to choose destinations that aren’t far away from home.

And he explained that “they prefer shorter flights because they want to reach their destination quickly and enjoy it more. So many travel to countries such as India, Thailand and the Maldives. The latter is a popular option since it offers all-inclusive packages, the flights are cheap and because shopping is (almost) nonexistent, you spend less.”

Travel in 2025 is looking promising, which is why he suggested that travellers book early because many airlines are operating these days, and there are plenty of offers if you book early.”

As for where to go, Bahaudeen recommended destinations such as Jakarta, Bali and Vietnam, for their beauty and attractions, as well as experiences like cruising out of Dubai, Singapore and Europe, which are economical all-inclusive ways to experience multiple destinations.