Tourist arrivals have crossed 1.6 million this year, with India remaining the biggest source of visitors.
According to the latest figures from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the country recorded 1,609,759 tourist arrivals between January 1 and September 14.
India accounted for 408,024 arrivals during this period. That means Indian visitors made up about one in every four tourist arrivals recorded so far this year.
September adds more than 74,000 arrivals
Sri Lanka recorded 74,637 tourist arrivals during the first 14 days of September.
India again led the market during the period, with 22,541 Indian tourists arriving in the first two weeks of the month.
The figures show that India continues to play a major role in the tourism market.
UK, China and Germany remain key markets
The United Kingdom was the second-largest source of tourists so far this year, with 155,798 arrivals.
China followed with 105,294 arrivals, while Germany recorded 94,007 visitors.
Together, these markets remain important sources of tourists alongside India.
The latest figures give the tourism sector more than 1.6 million arrivals by mid-September, with more than three months still left in the year.
The continued flow of visitors from India and other major markets will remain important for hotels, airlines, restaurants, travel companies and other businesses linked to tourism.
Tourism Target Revised for 2026
Despite crossing 1.6 million arrivals, the tourism sector faces challenges that have led authorities to lower their expectations for the full year.
The 2026 tourist arrival target has been revised to 2.7 million, while the tourism revenue target has been set at US$4.2 billion.
Reaching the revised arrival target would require about 1.1 million more tourists in the final quarter of the year.
However, geopolitical disruptions in Europe and the Middle East could affect travel demand during the remaining months.
India remains an important market for the sector. Strong regional air links and its proximity to Sri Lanka continue to support visitor flows from the country.
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Last modified: September 15, 2026
