Foreign tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka declined by 9.9% year-on-year to 124,551 in June 2026, following a 9.6% increase in May. This was the lowest monthly total since September 2024 and marked the third decline recorded so far this year. Even so, the data points to ongoing travel interest, with regional source markets—particularly India—continuing to underpin the sector. India remained the leading contributor, supplying 43,423 visitors, or 35% of total arrivals. It was followed by the UK (8%), Australia (7%), China (7%), and the US (3%).
Sri Lanka has set an ambitious target of 3 million tourist arrivals for 2026 after missing its goal last year. However, total arrivals in the first half of 2026 reached 1,146,573, a 15.1% decline from the same period a year earlier. This drop reflects softer inflows in recent months, amid disruptions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.
