Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka have exceeded 850,000 so far this year, despite a slowdown in recent months, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.
Data from the SLTDA shows that 277,327 tourists arrived in January, followed by 279,328 in February, reflecting a significant increase compared to the same period in both 2025 and 2018.
However, the upward trend slowed in March 2026, with arrivals declining to 183,979. The SLTDA attributed this drop to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The decline continued into April, with only 117,893 tourist arrivals recorded during the month.
Despite this dip, total tourist arrivals reached 858,527 by the end of the first quarter of 2026, indicating that the sector continues to maintain overall growth.
