Sri Lanka welcomed 145,745 international tourists in May, marking a notable increase compared to the same period last year, according to the latest figures released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
The growth comes despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East, which have affected global travel patterns and tourism activity in several regions.
Data released by the SLTDA shows that India remained Sri Lanka’s largest source market during May, with 60,342 arrivals accounting for 41% of total tourist arrivals for the month.
The United Kingdom followed with 9,248 visitors, while China contributed 9,156 arrivals. Germany recorded 6,734 tourists and a further 6,414 visitors arrived from China-based travel markets.
For comparison, Sri Lanka welcomed 132,919 tourists during May 2025, highlighting a year-on-year increase in visitor numbers.
With the latest figures included, total tourist arrivals for 2026 have now surpassed the one-million mark, reaching 1,022,022 visitors.
India continues to dominate the overall arrivals list for the year with 250,260 visitors, followed by the United Kingdom with 98,093 arrivals and Russia with 76,073 tourists.
Tourism authorities remain optimistic that the positive trend will continue throughout the remainder of the year as Sri Lanka strengthens its position as a leading travel destination in the region.
