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Sri Lanka’s tourism industry achieved a historic milestone in May, recording its highest-ever tourist arrivals for the month with 145,745 visitors, surpassing the previous May record of 132,919 arrivals in 2025 and registering a 9.65% year-on-year (YoY) increase.
The strong performance comes despite challenges posed by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which disrupted long-haul air traffic and increased travel costs across several key markets.
The latest data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) indicate a gradual strengthening in monthly arrival momentum after several months of relatively subdued growth.
The May performance pushed cumulative arrivals for the first five months of 2026 above the 1 million mark, reaching over 1.02 million visitors. However, year-to-date (YTD) arrivals remain marginally lower, down 1% compared to the corresponding period last year.
Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday described the achievement as a significant turning point for the industry, highlighting the recovery from pandemic-era lows.