Sri Lanka Tourism says about one-third of the money tourists spend in accommodation, travel agencies/tour operators, and wellness services does not stay in the Sri Lankan economy. This is mainly due to offshore bookings, high imports, and informal (unregistered) businesses.

A national workshop with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and UN Tourism discussed these findings and focused on practical solutions to reduce these value leakages.

Planned actions include:

• Encouraging more businesses to register and use digital systems
• Strengthening local supply chains and promoting locally made products
• Reducing dependency on imports
• Promoting sustainability and skills development
• Using digital tools to guide tourists toward local services

These steps will be included in a three-year roadmap to ensure more tourism income benefits Sri Lanka.