Sri Lanka has welcomed more than 1.8 million visitors so far this year, yet arrivals are still running slightly behind the pace of 2025, when the country set a record of 2.36 million. The original target of three million now looks out of reach.

Much of this is beyond the industry’s control. Conflict in the Middle East, higher fuel prices and uncertainty in air travel have all weighed on long-haul tourism. But the coming winter season gives Sri Lanka a chance to finish the year strongly.

India’s dominance as a source market is a strength, but relying so heavily on one market is a risk. Broadening promotion in Europe, East Asia and Australia, and improving air connectivity, would make the industry more resilient.

Events such as international concerts and conferences also show how Colombo can attract visitors outside the usual beach-and-heritage circuit. The focus must now shift from counting arrivals to increasing how much each visitor spends — and how much of that spending reaches local communities.