Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange earnings from tourism declined in January 2026, even as visitor arrivals continued to grow, underscoring challenges in per-capita spending within the sector.

According to data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), tourism revenue fell 6% year-on-year to $378.3 million in January 2026.

Although this represents a decrease compared to the $400.7 million earned in January 2025, it was higher than December 2025’s earnings of $308.6 million, reflecting a seasonal boost during the northern winter travel period.

Tourist arrivals increased significantly, reaching 277,327 in January 2026 up from 258,928 in December 2025 and 252,761 in January 2025.

This marks a 10% year-on-year increase and one of the strongest monthly performances on record for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.

Despite the encouraging rise in visitor numbers, the decline in overall earnings indicates that tourists are spending less on average.

Analysts point out that this trend presents a challenge for the sector’s recovery, emphasising the need to attract higher-spending visitors to generate more sustainable foreign exchange inflows and help Sri Lanka regain its pre-crisis economic stability.