Sri Lanka launches targeted tourism drive to meet 2026 arrival goals

COLOMBO, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has rolled out a special program to help the country meet its national tourism targets for 2026, a senior official said on Friday.

SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam said they will launch focused promotional campaigns in key European markets to attract visitors during what are traditionally considered off-peak months.

As part of the broader strategy, Sri Lanka recently carried out promotion programs in major Indian cities to diversify the country's Indian tourist base and draw more high-value visitors, he said.

He added that Sri Lanka has recorded a strong start to 2026, with more than 94,000 tourist arrivals reported in the first week of January 2026.

Tourism is a key foreign revenue generator for the country, and in 2026, Sri Lanka expects 3 million tourists.■