Sri Lanka tourism surpasses 1.5 million arrivals in 2026

Sri Lanka has surpassed 1.5 million tourist arrivals in 2026, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath. India remains the leading source of visitors with 374,820 arrivals, followed by the United Kingdom with 147,089 and China with 98,801.

The surge in tourism has prompted several airlines to expand or launch new services to the country. Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Jetstar have all commenced services within the last two weeks. Additionally, British Airways and French Bee are planning to launch services to further enhance international connectivity.

Major carriers including Turkish Airlines, Emirates, and Qatar Airways have also increased their flight frequencies to meet rising demand ahead of the winter travel season. These expansions are expected to support the continued recovery of Sri Lanka’s aviation and tourism sectors.