March 12, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has recorded a strong start to 2026, with visitor numbers surpassing the 600,000 mark within the first two months of the year, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.
Latest figures released by the tourism regulator show that a total of 604,301 international travellers entered the country between January 01 January and March 08 this year, signalling continued momentum in the island’s travel industry.
The data also indicates that 47,646 tourists arrived during the first eight days of March alone, suggesting that the country may experience another busy month for inbound travel as the peak season continues.
India remained the largest source market during February, with 11,345 visitors accounting for roughly 24 per cent of arrivals during the month. Significant numbers of travellers also arrived from Russia, the United Kingdom, China and Germany, reflecting Sri Lanka’s continued appeal across several key international markets.
Tourism officials say the steady influx of visitors is helping support hotels, transport services and small businesses that depend heavily on the sector. Industry stakeholders are optimistic that the upward trend will continue in the coming months as new promotional campaigns and improved air connectivity encourage more travellers to choose Sri Lanka as a destination.
For comparison, official records show that 229,298 tourists visited the country in March last year, a benchmark that authorities hope to approach or exceed if the current pace of arrivals continues.
