January 2026: A promising start for Sri Lanka tourism
The country welcomed 277,327 tourists in January, marking a 10% year-on-year (YoY) increase compared to the same period last year. The daily average arrivals in January 2026 consequently rose from the average daily 8,154 visitors in January 2025, to 8,946. Weekly figures during January 2026, showed a steady upward trend, with 58,822 arrivals in the first week, followed by 62,590 in the second week, 64,077 in the third, and a surge to 91,838 in the final week of the month.
India emerged as Sri Lanka’s largest source market in January, accounting for 52,061 visitors or 19% of total arrivals. The UK ranked second with 29,540 visitors, representing 11% of the total, followed by Russia with 27,134 arrivals. Other key markets included Germany (17,776), China (14,003), France (13,569), Australia (11,172), Poland (10,334), the US (7,373), and the Netherlands (7,107).
Arrivals from India recorded a strong 20% YoY increase, while the UK market expanded even faster, posting a 36% YoY growth. In contrast, arrivals from Russia declined by 26% YoY, (from 34,096 Russian tourists in January 2025), reflecting ongoing shifts in travel patterns from Eastern Europe.
Plans to introduce a visa-free entry program for visitors from 40 countries, scheduled to begin in January 2026 will now be rolled out, according to the Minister of Tourism before the end of the first quarter of 2026. The Minister also reiterated the Government’s commitment to rolling out the long-delayed nation branding initiative within the year – whilst cautioning that procurement procedures make it difficult t provide a exact implementation timeline.
In other news; since only around 30% has been completed by the previous governments, a further 30 months will be required to complete the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) Terminal II project once it is awarded to the prospective Japanese contractor through the ongoing tender process, according to the Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation. He went on to explain that the project will be implemented in two packages: Package A involving the construction of the terminal, car park, and access roads, of which only about 15% has been completed, and Package B, that includes the construction of a hangar, which has been largely completed.
Hospitality Sri Lanka
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