SL Tourism: Record Arrivals Meet Revenue Dip in early 2026 📈

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector saw record-breaking visitor numbers in the first two months of 2026, yet total earnings failed to keep pace with the influx. • Overall Arrivals: Totaled 556,655 for Jan-Feb, a 12.9% YoY increase from 492,978 in 2025. • Record Milestones: January (277,327) and February (279,328) marked the highest monthly arrivals in the country's history. • Arrival Growth: January saw a 9.7% YoY rise, while February surged by 16.2%. • Revenue Contraction: Despite more visitors, total earnings for the period dropped by 4.9%, falling from US$ 768.2 Mn in 2025 to US$ 730.3 Mn in 2026. • Monthly Earnings: - January: US$ 378.3 Mn (down 5.6% YoY) - February: US$ 352 Mn (down 4.2% YoY) The data suggests a shift in visitor spending patterns or duration of stay, impacting the services sector's contribution to national foreign exchange despite high volume. Figures are based on official provisional data.