FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – According to official statistics, Sri Lanka experienced a decline of 1.7 percent in tourist arrivals for July 2026. The total number of visitors recorded during this month was 196,845, a decrease from 200,244 arrivals in July of the previous year.
India maintained its position as the leading source of tourists, contributing 44,547 visitors, which accounted for 23 percent of all arrivals. The United Kingdom followed with 21,834 visitors, while the Netherlands contributed 12,493.
In the first six months of 2026, Sri Lanka welcomed a total of 1,146,573 tourists. This figure reflects a year-on-year decline of 9.9 percent in June 2026, as per data from the central bank. In comparison, the first half of 2025 saw 1,168,044 arrivals.
Furthermore, tourism revenue in June 2026 fell by 10.8 percent year-on-year, totaling 151 million dollars. For the first half of 2026, tourism earnings declined by 11.8 percent, reaching 1,511 million dollars compared to the same period in 2025. (Colombo/Aug3/2026)
