📉 June Records Lowest Tourist Arrivals of 2026 as Indian Market Softens

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector hit its lowest monthly inflow for the year in June 2026, driven primarily by a sharp drop in Indian travellers, according to provisional data from the SLTDA. • Overall Performance: June arrivals fell 10% YoY to 124,551 (down from 138,241 in June 2025). This also marks a 15% decline compared to May 2026. Average daily arrivals dropped to 4,152 against 4,608 last year. • Year-to-Date (YTD): Cumulative arrivals for 2026 reached over 1.14 Mn. However, the industry remains 1.8% below the 1.16 Mn arrivals recorded during the same period last year, trailing its previous growth trajectory. • Top Source Markets (June): • India: Remained the top feeder market with 43,423 arrivals (35% share), but suffered a sharp 28% MoM decline from May's 60,342. • United Kingdom: 10,474 visitors (8% share). • Australia: 8,710 visitors (7% share). • China: 8,224 visitors (7% share). • YTD Market Share: India continues to dominate overall 2026 arrivals with 293,683 visitors (26%), followed by the UK at 108,567 (9%) and Russia at 77,349 (7%). The slowdown underscores the critical need for Sri Lanka to sustain demand in its primary source markets to maintain momentum toward its annual targets.