Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has reached a significant milestone in the new year, with foreign arrivals surpassing the 500,000 mark within the first seven weeks of 2026. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) reported Tuesday (24) that 505,751 tourists visited the island between Jan. 1 and Feb. 22.

The data reveals a robust surge in travel during February, which saw 228,424 arrivals in just the first 22 days of the month. A notable trend in February has been the consistent weekly performance, with arrivals exceeding 70,000 for three consecutive weeks. The first week of the month recorded 70,355 visitors, followed by 77,870 in the second week and 71,101 in the third.

India remains the primary source market for Sri Lankan tourism, contributing 89,277 visitors during this period. Other key markets showing strong growth include the United Kingdom with 55,407 arrivals, Russia with 45,351, Germany with 35,413, and China with 31,621. Significant numbers of travelers were also recorded from France, Australia, and the Netherlands. (NewsWire)

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