April Tourist Arrivals Dip Amid Geopolitical Tensions 📈

Sri Lanka's tourism sector recorded its weakest monthly performance of 2026 in April, impacted by the end of the winter season and Middle East instability. • Overall Figures • Total Arrivals: 135,643 (Down 22.3% YoY). • Month-on-Month: 26.3% decline from March (183,979). • Year-to-Date (YTD): 876,277 (Down 2.3% YoY). • Daily Average: Fell to 4,521 from 5,820 in April 2025. • Top Source Markets (April) • India: 42,645 (31% of total) • China: 10,544 • UK: 10,425 • Australia: 9,943 • Russia: 6,898 • Sector Impact & Outlook • Geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East has disrupted aviation networks and transit hubs, raising travel costs for long-haul markets. • Despite the slowdown, the national target remains 3 million arrivals and US$ 4 Bn in earnings for 2026. • Future growth faces headwinds from regional instability and aviation disruptions. _Data based on latest industry provisional figures._