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Insights from the SLTDA–MDF Airport Exit Survey

  • Maxime Wickramasinghe
  • 3 days ago
  • 3 min read


Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is a vital engine of livelihoods, foreign exchange earnings, and regional development. As the industry continues its recovery and transformation, evidence-based decision-making has never been more important.


In this context, the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) welcomes the findings emerging from the Airport Exit Survey conducted by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) in collaboration with the Market Development Facility (MDF), supported by the Australian Government.


These insights represent a significant step forward in strengthening Sri Lanka’s tourism data ecosystem and laying the foundation for the country’s first Tourism Satellite Account (TSA).




Why Data Matters for Tourism



Tourism plays a strategic role in Sri Lanka’s economy, contributing to employment generation, regional development, and foreign exchange earnings. Strengthening data-backed decision-making allows policymakers and industry stakeholders to better understand:


  • Visitor flows and traveller behaviour

  • Spending patterns and economic contribution

  • Market trends and emerging demand

  • Opportunities for inclusive and sustainable growth



Since 2015, MDF has worked closely with SLTDA to strengthen institutional capacity, improve tourism research and analysis, and align Sri Lanka’s tourism data systems with global standards.




About the Airport Exit Survey



The Airport Exit Survey was conducted over 12 months (July 2024 – June 2025) at Bandaranaike International Airport, providing one of the most comprehensive snapshots of Sri Lanka’s visitor landscape to date.


Key highlights of the survey include:


  • 11,000+ inbound and 5,000+ outbound travellers interviewed

  • Visitor insights covering 50+ source markets

  • Interviews conducted in 8 languages to ensure inclusivity

  • Survey design aligned with international research standards for accuracy and reliability



The findings from this survey will directly contribute to the development of a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) — an internationally recognised framework to quantify tourism’s contribution to GDP, employment, and related sectors.




Key Visitor Insights



The preliminary findings offer valuable insights into visitor demographics, behaviour, and spending patterns:


  • Women lead travel to Sri Lanka, accounting for 58% of arrivals

  • 46% of visitors are aged between 20–35, highlighting strong appeal among young, experience-driven travellers

  • 70% of travellers are university graduates, reflecting a well-educated visitor profile

  • 18% are repeat visitors, while 45% state they will definitely visit Sri Lanka again

  • 62% travel independently, rather than as part of package tours

  • 46% book through online travel agents (OTAs)

  • 32% plan their trips at least one month in advance





Visitor Spending Patterns



Understanding how visitors allocate their spending is critical to maximising tourism’s economic impact:


  • 55% of visitor expenditure goes toward accommodation and transport

  • 31% is spent on food and beverages, underlining the importance of Sri Lanka’s culinary and hospitality offering

  • Remaining expenditure is distributed across experiences, shopping, and other services



These trends reinforce the importance of strengthening local supply chains, experiential tourism products, and regionally dispersed tourism offerings.




Interpreting the Findings



While the findings provide valuable direction for the industry, it is important to note that, as with any large-scale survey, results may reflect certain variations and limitations. Differences in travel seasonality, length of stay, traveller profiles, and self-reported responses may result in minor inaccuracies or fluctuations within specific data points.


These insights should therefore be viewed as indicative trends rather than absolute measures, and interpreted alongside other market intelligence and sector data.




What This Means for the Industry



For SLAITO and its member Destination Management Companies (DMCs), these findings provide a strong, evidence-based foundation to:


  • Advocate for smarter and more targeted tourism policies

  • Support sustainable, inclusive, and regionally balanced tourism development

  • Improve market positioning and product diversification

  • Strengthen Sri Lanka’s credibility with international partners and investors



The development of a Tourism Satellite Account will further enable Sri Lanka to benchmark itself globally and track tourism’s real economic contribution over time.




Looking Ahead



The full findings of the Airport Exit Survey are expected to be released by SLTDA in early 2026. SLAITO looks forward to continued engagement with policymakers, industry stakeholders, and development partners to ensure these insights translate into meaningful action for the sector.


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