Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka have crossed 1.9 million this year, with India remaining the largest source of international visitors. The country welcomed 1,912,233 tourists between January 1 and November 8, according to the latest figures from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
A total of 49,929 visitors arrived during the first eight days of November. This brings the year’s cumulative arrivals closer to the 2 million mark.
India Remains the Largest Source of Tourists
India continues to lead Sri Lanka’s international visitor markets, contributing 512,026 arrivals so far this year.
The United Kingdom ranks second with 176,670 visitors. China follows with 126,326 arrivals, while Germany has contributed another 108,754 tourists.
India has also maintained its lead during November. A total of 12,401 Indian visitors arrived between November 1 and 8.
These figures show the importance of regional and European markets to the country’s tourism industry. They also provide useful information for hotels, travel agencies and tour operators targeting international visitors.
Tourist Arrivals Still Trail Last Year’s Pace
Despite crossing 1.9 million arrivals, the country’s tourism performance remains slightly below last year’s level.
The cumulative arrivals recorded up to November 8 were around 1.7% lower than the corresponding period in 2025, according to comparisons reported from SLTDA data.
However, the November figures show that international visitors continue to arrive from several major markets. India remains the largest contributor, while the UK, China and Germany continue to account for substantial visitor numbers.
For tourism businesses, these figures provide a clearer picture of the markets bringing visitors into the country. Hotels, tour operators and travel agencies can use this information when planning services and promotional activities.
The next few weeks will add to the year’s total as the industry moves further into the final part of 2026. The full-year figure will show how close Sri Lanka comes to matching or exceeding last year’s record of 2.36 million tourist arrivals.
Last modified: November 10, 2026
