In January last year, Sri Lanka welcomed 252,761 foreign tourists. This figure rose to 277,327 in January this year, marking a 9.7% year-on-year growth. Compared to 2018, the increase stands at 16%, reflecting a strong recovery and expansion in the sector.
Similarly, tourist arrivals in February have shown growth. While 240,217 visitors arrived in February last year, the number has already climbed to 253,293 this year.
Overall, from January 1 to February 25 this year, Sri Lanka has received a total of 530,620 international tourists, according to official figures.
India emerged as the leading source market for the month, contributing 41,786 visitors, accounting for 17% of total arrivals. The United Kingdom ranked second, with 28,222 visitors, representing 11% of the total.
Between February 1 and 25 alone, 93,847 tourists arrived from India, 57,762 from the United Kingdom, and 48,312 from Russia.
Based on these figures, analysts suggest that Sri Lanka is on a favorable path to achieving its projected tourism targets for 2026, supported by sustained growth in key source markets.
