June 2026 tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka total 124,551
Sri Lanka recorded 124,551 tourist arrivals in June 2026, marking a 9.90% decline compared to the 138,241 visitors recorded in the same-month of the previous year.
India continued to be the top source with 43,423 visitors, making up 35 percent of total arrivals. The UK (10,474), Australia (8,710), China (8224), US (3806), France (3,762), Germany (3,735), Bangladesh (3,438), Canada (3,393) and the Maldives (2,561) made it to the ‘Top Ten’ source markets, in that order.
The Year-to-date, accumulative figure for the ‘Top Ten’ countries by source market has India leading the pack with 293,683 arrivals followed by the UK with 108,567, the Russian Federation (77,349), China (76,171), Germany (69,758), Australia (57,436), France (52,997), the US (32,967), Poland (23,456), and Canada (22,313) in that order.
There have been 1,146,573 visitors to the island in the first half of 2026 (Jan – June). The total number of tourist arrivals in the first half of 2025 stood at 1,168,044 – a 1.8% drop, this year over last year.
Meanwhile the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has stated that tourism earnings recorded in the country from January to May this year have declined by nearly 12%, compared to the corresponding period last year. Tourism revenue generated from January to May this year amounted to USD 1,360 million. In 2025, tourism earnings were recorded at USD 1,543.1 million.
The island has set an ambitious target of 3 million arrivals for 2026, after missing the goal last year.
Sri Lanka has been ranked the Best Island in the World by global travel platform 'Big 7 Travel', topping its annual list of "The 50 Best Islands in the World" for 2026. Sri Lanka claimed the top position ahead of several internationally renowned destinations, earning praise for its 833-mile coastline, misty central highlands, lush tea plantations, rich cultural heritage, and remarkable biodiversity. The platform also highlighted iconic attractions such as Yala National Park, known for its wildlife safaris, and the UNESCO-listed Sigiriya Rock Fortress as key reasons behind the country's top ranking.
The latest carrier to start a new flight between Paris and Colombo is low-cost carrier French Bee. The new Paris-Colombo route, meanwhile, is part of a seasonal expansion meant to tap into growing tourist interest in the country. It was also designed as a connector route allowing travelers from the U.S. to reach Sri Lanka through a transfer or stopover in Paris.
In response to demand from tourists as well as members of the diaspora living in the United Kingdom, British flag carrier British Airways announced a new route between London Gatwick (LGW) and Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) that will start running in October 2026. The flight will run three times a week seasonally.
Qatar Airways has resumed full operations on the Doha–Colombo route from July 1, reinstating its schedule of five daily flights and strengthening air connectivity to Sri Lanka. With the restoration of services, the airline will operate a total of 35 weekly flights to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
Sri Lanka has launched a Rs. 15 billion project to renovate Terminal 1 of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake. The project is aimed at easing passenger congestion at the country’s main international airport until the completion of the Japan-assisted Terminal 2 development. Under the upgrade, Terminal 1 will see expanded departure areas, redesigned arrival facilities and modernised baggage handling systems to improve efficiency and passenger flow. Once completed, the overall capacity of the airport is expected to increase to around 15 million passengers annually, strengthening Sri Lanka’s position as a regional aviation hub, officials said.
Hospitality Sri Lanka
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