April tourist arrivals hit yearly low as SL records decline in visitors, earnings

Sri Lanka recorded its lowest monthly tourist arrivals for the year in April, with only 135,643 visitors, marking a sharp 22.3% decline compared to April 2025.

Total arrivals for the first four months of the year (as at April 30) stood at 876,277, reflecting a drop of 75,297 compared to the same period last year.

India remained the top source market, contributing 189,918 visitors so far this year. However, average daily arrivals declined to around 4,000 during April.

Tourism earnings also fell, with revenue declining by 15%. The country earned USD 954 million from January to March 2026, compared to USD 1,122.3 million during the same period in 2025.

The only positive trend in April was China emerging as the second-largest source market, overtaking the United Kingdom, Australia, the Russian Federation, and France, with 5,844 arrivals.