Sri Lanka tourism statistics & travel demand
How many tourists visit Sri Lanka, when they come, where they're from and what they spend — pulled together from official SLTDA figures so you can plan around real demand.
Last updated August 2026 · Primary source: Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA)
Arrivals 2025
2.36M
+15.1% YoY — a new all-time record
Busiest month
258,928
December 2025, +4.2% — the highest ever
Tourism earnings 2025
$3.22B
+1.6% YoY
Spend per visitor
$1,363
≈ $148 per day (2025 survey)
Monthly tourist arrivals — 2025 vs 2026
2025 was a record year at 2,362,521 arrivals. Demand peaks in the December–March high season and dips in the southwest-monsoon months of May and June.
| Month | 2025 | 2026 | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 252,761 | 277,327 | +9.7% |
| Feb | 240,217 | 279,328 | +16.3% |
| Mar | 229,298 | 183,979 | -19.8% |
| Apr | 174,608 | 135,643 | -22.3% |
| May | 132,919 | 145,745 | +9.7% |
| Jun | 138,241 | — | — |
| Jul | 200,244 | — | — |
| Aug | 198,235 | — | — |
| Sep | 158,971 | — | — |
| Oct | 165,193 | — | — |
| Nov | 212,906 | — | — |
| Dec | 258,928 | — | — |
| 2025 total | 2,362,521 | — | +15.1% |
Source: SLTDA Monthly Tourist Arrivals Reports & Year in Review 2025. November 2025 derived to reconcile with the official annual total.
Where Sri Lanka's tourists come from (2025)
India dominates the market, sending more visitors than the next two countries combined. European winter-sun travellers and China round out the top ten.
| # | Country | Arrivals | Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 531,511 | 22.5% | Largest market — more than double any other. |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 212,277 | 9.0% | |
| 3 | Russian Federation | 186,580 | 7.9% | Key winter-sun market. |
| 4 | Germany | 147,966 | 6.3% | |
| 5 | China | 132,035 | 5.6% | |
| 6 | Australia | 109,487 | 4.6% | |
| 7 | France | 109,041 | 4.6% | |
| 8 | United States | 65,973 | 2.8% | |
| 9 | Netherlands | 64,164 | 2.7% | |
| 10 | Bangladesh | 59,563 | 2.5% |
Source: SLTDA Year in Review 2025. Shares are of the 2,362,521 total 2025 arrivals.
Tourism earnings & spend
Earnings hit $3.22 billion in 2025, but grew only +1.6% — well behind arrivals — as average spend per visitor fell.
| Year | Earnings | Arrivals | Per visitor | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3.17B | 2,053,465 | $1,543 | — |
| 2025 | $3.22B | 2,362,521 | $1,363 | $148 |
Source: Daily FT & SLTDA. Per-day spend reflects the revised 2025 SLTDA visitor survey.
Best time to visit — and when to book
Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so the "good" coast changes through the year. Arrivals — and prices — peak from December to March.
Dec – Mar
PeakWest & south coasts, hill country, cultural triangle
High season and the driest weather in the most-visited regions — also the busiest and priciest. Book drivers and hotels well ahead.
Apr
ShoulderIsland-wide shoulder
Warm and mostly dry between monsoons; Sinhala & Tamil New Year brings local travel. Good value before the southwest monsoon.
May – Aug
Low (SW)East coast — Trincomalee, Pasikudah, Arugam Bay
Southwest monsoon brings rain to the west and south, but it's peak season and best surf on the east coast. Fewer crowds and lower prices in the south.
Sep – Nov
ShoulderIsland-wide shoulder (Oct–Nov wettest)
Second inter-monsoon; October–November are the wettest island-wide but arrivals and prices are lower — good value with some flexibility on weather.
Travelling in high season? Lock in your driver early.
December–March demand is at record highs. Build your route and get a fixed, all-inclusive quote — free, no sign-up.
Data sources & methodology
Every figure on this page is compiled from free, public data — official Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) reports plus reputable news coverage. We review and refresh the numbers periodically; this page was last updated in August 2026. Where a monthly figure isn't yet published, it's marked as such or derived to reconcile with the official annual total.
- Monthly Tourist Arrivals Reports— Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA)
- Year in Review 2025— Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA)
- Tourism arrivals grow by 15% to 2.36m record high in 2025— Daily FT
- Tourism revenue lags behind arrivals growth in 2025— Daily FT
- Sri Lanka Tourism Revenues (historical series)— Trading Economics
Sri Lanka tourism statistics — FAQ
How many tourists visit Sri Lanka each year?
Sri Lanka welcomed 2,362,521 tourists in 2025 — a new all-time record, up 15.1% on 2024's 2,053,465 and just past the previous 2018 peak. Arrivals have been climbing steadily through the post-2022 recovery.
What is the busiest month for tourism in Sri Lanka?
December is the busiest — 258,928 arrivals in December 2025, the highest of any month on record. The December-to-March window is peak season for the west and south coasts, the hill country and the cultural triangle. May and June are the quietest months in the south.
Which country sends the most tourists to Sri Lanka?
India is by far the largest source market — 531,511 visitors in 2025 (about 22.5% of all arrivals), more than double any other country. It's followed by the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany and China.
What is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?
It depends on where you're going, because the island has two monsoons. December to March is best for the west and south coasts, the hill country and the cultural triangle. May to September suits the east coast — Trincomalee, Pasikudah and the Arugam Bay surf. April and October–November are shoulder seasons with fewer crowds and better value.
How much do tourists spend in Sri Lanka?
Tourism earned Sri Lanka about $3.22 billion in 2025. That works out to roughly $1,363 per visitor, or about $148 per day under the latest SLTDA visitor survey — down from prior years as spending patterns shifted.
Is Sri Lanka getting more crowded?
Arrivals are at record highs and still trending up year-on-year, so peak-season demand for good drivers and hotels is strong. If you're travelling December–March, book your driver and accommodation well ahead to lock in availability and price.