05.06.202600:19:16UTC+00Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals Recover in May

Foreign tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka rose by 9.65% year-on-year to 145,745 in May 2026, following a 22.3% decline in the previous month. This was the highest monthly tally in three months.

India remained the largest source market, contributing 60,342 visitors, or 42% of total arrivals, and maintaining its position as the key driver of inbound tourism to the island. It was followed by the UK (6%), China (6%), Germany (5%), and Australia (4%).

Sri Lanka has set an ambitious target of 3 million tourist arrivals for 2026, after missing this goal last year. Although arrivals had declined in earlier months due to the conflict in the Middle East, a recovery is now evident, with a total of 134,530 tourists visiting the country in the first five months of the year, signaling a renewed upturn in tourism.