Sri Lanka tourism arrivals reached a historic high in January 2026, reflecting continued recovery and global travel demand. The country welcomed over 277,000 visitors, supported by strong growth from major source markets and improved travel momentum.
Sri Lanka tourism arrivals rise with strong growth across key markets
Sri Lanka tourism arrivals recorded their highest-ever January performance in 2026, signalling sustained recovery and strengthening global demand for the island as a travel destination. The country welcomed 277,327 tourists during the month, surpassing the previous January record of 252,761 visitors achieved in 2025.
The latest data shows a 10 percent year-on-year increase, highlighting consistent growth in visitor numbers as the tourism sector continues to rebuild after several years of disruption caused by economic challenges and global travel uncertainties. Industry stakeholders view the performance as an encouraging indicator of the sector’s recovery trajectory and its contribution to foreign exchange earnings.
Tourism performance during the month was supported by an increase in average daily visitor arrivals. Daily arrivals rose to 8,946 tourists in January 2026, compared to 8,154 arrivals recorded during the same period last year. The highest single-day visitor inflow occurred on 15 January, when 10,483 tourists entered the country, reflecting strong peak-season travel demand.
Weekly arrival data demonstrated consistent growth momentum throughout the month. The first week of January recorded 58,822 visitors, followed by 62,590 arrivals in the second week and 64,077 visitors in the third week. The final week experienced a notable surge, attracting 91,838 tourists, reflecting strong holiday travel patterns and seasonal visitor flows.
India remained the largest contributor to Sri Lanka tourism arrivals, accounting for 52,061 visitors, representing 19 percent of total arrivals. The strong performance from India reflects geographical proximity, improved connectivity, and increasing leisure travel demand. Arrivals from India recorded a significant 20 percent year-on-year increase, reinforcing the country’s position as Sri Lanka’s most important source market.
The United Kingdom ranked as the second-largest source market, contributing 29,540 visitors and accounting for 11 percent of total arrivals. The UK market demonstrated strong expansion, posting a 36 percent increase compared to January 2025. Analysts attribute the growth to improved travel confidence, promotional campaigns, and favourable travel conditions.
Russia ranked third among source markets, with 27,134 arrivals. However, visitor numbers from Russia declined by 26 percent year-on-year, reflecting shifting travel patterns and evolving geopolitical and economic conditions influencing outbound tourism from Eastern Europe.
Several other key markets contributed significantly to Sri Lanka tourism arrivals. Germany recorded 17,776 visitors, followed by China with 14,003 arrivals and France with 13,569 visitors. Additional contributions came from Australia, Poland, the United States, and the Netherlands, demonstrating a diversified source market base that supports tourism sector resilience.
Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath has outlined ambitious targets for the sector, stating that Sri Lanka aims to attract at least three million tourist arrivals in 2026. The target builds on the country’s record performance in 2025, when Sri Lanka welcomed 2.36 million visitors, representing the highest annual total recorded in the country’s tourism history.
Government policy initiatives are expected to play a central role in sustaining tourism growth. Authorities have confirmed plans to introduce a free-visa scheme before the end of the first quarter of 2026, aiming to stimulate travel demand from both established and emerging source markets. Industry observers believe visa facilitation measures could significantly improve accessibility and enhance the country’s competitiveness within the regional tourism market.
The Government is also working toward implementing a national destination branding initiative, which has faced delays in recent years. Officials emphasise that a comprehensive branding campaign is essential for strengthening Sri Lanka’s global tourism identity and positioning the country as a premium travel destination. However, procurement processes and administrative procedures have made it difficult to establish a precise implementation timeline.
Tourism industry stakeholders have welcomed the strong start to 2026, noting that consistent visitor growth could support employment generation, foreign exchange earnings, and regional economic development. The tourism sector remains one of Sri Lanka’s key economic drivers, contributing significantly to hospitality, transport, retail, and entertainment industries.
Analysts suggest that maintaining service quality, improving infrastructure, and enhancing destination marketing will be essential for sustaining long-term tourism expansion. Diversifying source markets and promoting niche tourism segments, including eco-tourism, cultural tourism, and wellness travel, are also expected to support future growth.
Overall, Sri Lanka tourism arrivals in January 2026 reflect renewed international travel confidence and positive sector momentum. Continued policy support, improved connectivity, and effective destination promotion are expected to strengthen the country’s tourism outlook for the remainder of the year.