## 📈 Sri Lanka Tourism: Strong Start to 2026 with 131K+ Arrivals

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector kicked off the year with significant momentum, welcoming 131,898 visitors in the first 15 days of January 2026, based on provisional data from the SLTDA. • Overall Performance Total Arrivals: 131,898 (Jan 1–15). Growth: 9.43% YoY increase compared to the same period in 2025. Daily Average: 8,793 visitors (up from 8,040 last year). Peak Day: Jan 15 recorded the highest daily influx with 10,483 arrivals. • Top Source Markets India: 23,786 arrivals (18% share) – remains the primary market. Russia: 14,785 arrivals (11% share). UK: 12,166 arrivals (9% share). Other Key Markets: Germany, France, Australia, China, Poland, the US, and the Netherlands. The steady growth in arrivals highlights the resilience of the hospitality industry and its critical role in national foreign exchange earnings. The data includes cruise ship arrivals, reflecting a diversified approach to attracting visitors. _Source: SLTDA Provisional Data_