India has taken the lead as the largest source market for tourism in Sri Lanka, with a staggering 20,971 tourist arrivals in the month of May, accounting for 28 percent of total arrivals. According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the island nation has witnessed an improvement in off-season tourism, with a total of 75,767 tourists visiting the country by the 28th of May. This figure represents a significant increase from the previous year's 30,207 arrivals during the same period.<br />'' <br />''In the first five months of this year, Sri Lanka has already welcomed nearly 5.17 lakh tourists, signaling a promising recovery for the tourism sector. In light of this positive momentum, the Chairman of the SLTDA, Priantha Fernando, announced plans to revise the target for tourist arrivals from 15 lakhs to 20 lakhs.<br />'' <br />''Moreover, during the off-season between April and June, hotel prices in Colombo are experiencing a decline due to increased competition. This period, following the conclusion of the European winter, traditionally witnesses a slowdown in tourist activity with arrivals picking up from July onwards.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Sri Lanka's tourism industry faced significant setbacks last year, primarily due to foreign exchange shortages that resulted in power and fuel disruptions just as the country began to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the recent surge in arrivals, particularly from India, offers a ray of hope for a robust tourism revival in the island nation.</span><br />