Sri Lanka recorded 904,855 tourist arrivals between January 1 and May 6, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said, with the year-to-date total crossing the 900,000 threshold for the first time in 2026.
Indian nationals topped the source markets at 200,796 arrivals, the SLTDA said. The United Kingdom, Russia, Germany and China were the other leading sources. The Authority noted 28,578 arrivals during the first six days of May (May 1–6) — equivalent to a daily run rate of about 4,760 visitors.
However, an SLTDA analysis indicated that daily tourist arrivals in April and May have declined significantly compared with figures recorded in January, February and March, the Authority said.
The slowdown is consistent with earlier monthly data. Sri Lanka’s first four months of 2026 closed at 858,527 arrivals, with April alone at just 117,893 — the year’s weakest monthly count. March arrivals had earlier fallen 19.7% year-on-year, with revenue for the month plunging 37% on lower per-visitor spending.
The recent trend reflects regional travel disruption tied to the Middle East conflict that has cut Gulf-hub connectivity, raised airfares and depressed onward demand into South Asia. By mid-April, daily arrivals had already fallen 27% year-on-year, and the second half of the month brought no clear recovery.
Despite the weak shoulder season, the cumulative four-month total still keeps Sri Lanka within reach of the government’s three-million-visitor annual target — though that goal would require a marked acceleration in the May–September window. Industry groups have repeatedly called for renewed market-diversification campaigns to offset the Middle East-driven dip in core source markets.
Source: Ada Derana.
