EconomyGeneralHOTMonday, April 20, 2026

Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals Decline in April Amid Geopolitical Tensions

TLDR

Total arrivals reached 858,527 by April 26, 2026.
April 2026 saw 135,643 arrivals, a 22.3% drop from 2025.
India leads markets; Middle East tensions cited for April dip.
Jan/Feb 2026 saw strong growth compared to last year.

Sri Lanka's tourism sector has recorded 809,595 international tourist arrivals for the period from January 1 to April 15, 2024, according to the Sri Lanka Tourist Development Authority (SLTDA). This figure marks a significant milestone, surpassing the 800,000 mark for the year. During the first fifteen days of April alone, the country welcomed 68,961 visitors. India remains the leading source market, contributing 19,822 tourists in the first half of April and a total of 167,095 arrivals year-to-date. Other significant contributors during the April 1-15 period included the United Kingdom (6,328), Australia (6,223), China (5,100), Russia (3,560), and Germany (2,905).

5 Updates

Update #6\u00b7 May 5 · 2:33 PM

New data indicates that Sri Lanka recorded 135,643 tourist arrivals in April 2026, a 22.3% decrease compared to the 174,608 arrivals in April 2025. This decline is attributed by one source to Middle East tensions. For April 2026, India was the leading source market with 42,645 arrivals, followed by China (10,544), the UK (10,425), Australia (9,943), and Russia (6,898). March 2026 saw 183,979 arrivals. Monthly figures for January and February 2026 were 277,327 and 279,328 respectively, noted as a significant increase compared to 2025.

Update #5\u00b7 Apr 28 · 12:35 PM

Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals have now surpassed 850,000 for the year, reaching a total of 858,527 between January 1 and April 26, 2026, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). This marks an increase from the 840,411 arrivals recorded by April 22. For the month of April alone, 117,893 tourists visited the country between April 1 and April 26. India continues to be the leading source market, contributing 183,135 arrivals for the January 1 to April 26 period, with significant contributions also noted from the UK, Russia, Germany, and China.

Update #4\u00b7 Apr 25 · 6:47 AM

Data indicates that average daily tourist arrivals in April have declined compared to previous months, despite overall arrivals reaching 840,411 by April 22, with 99,777 recorded in April alone. India remains the leading source market with 176,465 arrivals for the year up to April 22.

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