Sri Lanka earned US$151.1 million from tourism in June 2026, the lowest monthly revenue since October 2023, as visitor spending weakened despite continued tourist arrivals.
Latest data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, based on figures from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), show tourism earnings declined 10.9% from US$169.5 million recorded in June 2025. Revenue also slipped from US$155.7 million in May.
First-Half Earnings Also Decline
Tourism generated US$1.51 billion during the first six months of 2026, down 11.8% from US$1.71 billion recorded during the same period last year.
Although tourist arrivals remained relatively stable, the figures indicate that the average amount spent by each visitor has declined.
Methodology Updated
The SLTDA revised its tourism earnings methodology in May 2026, introducing country-specific data on visitor spending and length of stay to improve the accuracy of earnings estimates.
The updated methodology has been applied retrospectively from January 2026.
Industry Eyes 2026 Target
Sri Lanka has set a target of attracting 3 million tourists and generating US$4 billion in tourism earnings this year.
The latest figures suggest the industry will need to increase visitor spending, in addition to attracting more travelers, to achieve that goal.
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Last modified: July 13, 2026
