Tourism statisticsCountry2026
Sri Lanka Tourism Statistics: 2.4M Arrivals in 2025
Sri Lanka recorded 2,362,521 international tourist arrivals in 2025, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority reports. This counts people crossing a border, so domestic trips are not in it. AirROI estimates 97,181 Airbnb stays in Sri Lanka in the 12 months to October 2026, with Colombo the most booked city. The busiest month was January.
Airbnb figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026. Read the method
- Estimated Airbnb nights
- 496,786
- Typical Airbnb stay
- 5.1 nights
- Busiest Airbnb month
- January
- From abroad, among guests who left a review
- 99%
Key facts
Sri Lanka Tourism Facts
Each sentence names its place, period and source, so it can be quoted alone.
Official
- The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority puts Sri Lanka at 2,362,521 international tourist arrivals in 2025.
Airbnb stays
- AirROI puts Airbnb stays in Sri Lanka at 97,181 in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in Sri Lanka added up to 496,786 nights in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates a typical Airbnb stay in Sri Lanka lasted 5.1 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 40 days ahead.
Busiest months
- AirROI ranks January the busiest Airbnb month in Sri Lanka in the 12 months to October 2026, followed by February and December, with May the quietest.
- AirROI estimates the five busiest Airbnb months in Sri Lanka ran unbroken from November to March in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in Sri Lanka in February were booked furthest ahead, about 50 days, against 25 days for June, in the 12 months to October 2026.
Guests
- AirROI estimates 99% of Sri Lanka Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 came from abroad, led by Germany at 18% and the United Kingdom at 17%.
By place
- AirROI ranks Sri Lanka 14th for Airbnb stays among Asia's 33 countries in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Colombo had the most Airbnb stays of the 19 towns it lists in Sri Lanka in the 12 months to October 2026, at 10,784, ahead of Ella and Kandy.
Official numbers
How Many Tourists Visit Sri Lanka?
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority counted 2,362,521 international tourist arrivals in 2025.
| Figure | What it counts | Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,362,521International tourist arrivals | International tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka, January to December 2025 | 2025 | Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority |
Airbnb stays
Airbnb Stays in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka had 7,175 Airbnb homes in the 12 months to October 2026. They took an estimated 97,181 stays and 496,786 nights. A typical stay lasted 5.1 nights and was booked about 40 days ahead. AirROI's figures cover the 63 towns it tracks in Sri Lanka; places it does not track are not counted, so every total is a floor.
- Airbnb homes
- 7,175
- Airbnb stays, estimate
- 97,181
- Airbnb nights, estimate
- 496,786
- Typical stay
- 5.1 nights
- Booked ahead
- 40 days
Busiest months
When Is the Busiest Time in Sri Lanka?
On Airbnb, January was the busiest month in Sri Lanka in the 12 months to October 2026, then February and December. May was the quietest. The five busiest months run unbroken from November to March.
January ranks first, May last
Airbnb months in calendar order, 12 months to October 2026. The number is the month's rank, and 1 is the busiest. The bar shows its part of Airbnb nights.
- Three busiest months
- Other months
From busiest to quietest: January, February, December, March, November, July, August, April, September, October, June, May.
Month by month: rank, typical stay and days booked ahead
| Month | Share of nights | Booked ahead |
|---|---|---|
| January | 11.1% | 47 days |
| February | 10.2% | 50 days |
| December | 10.0% | 48 days |
| March | 9.5% | 38 days |
| November | 8.8% | 46 days |
| July | 8.0% | 45 days |
| August | 7.7% | 49 days |
| April | 7.2% | 43 days |
| September | 7.2% | 31 days |
| October | 7.0% | 39 days |
| June | 6.8% | 25 days |
| May | 6.4% | 27 days |
Share is each month's part of the year's Airbnb nights. Typical stay and days booked ahead are AirROI estimates for stays in each month.
Where guests come from
Where Do Sri Lanka Airbnb Guests Come From?
Among Sri Lanka Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, nearly all came from abroad (99%), led by Germany at 18% and the United Kingdom at 17%, AirROI estimates. Among the same guests, London was the top origin city at 4.5%, ahead of Berlin at 2.4%. The figures rest on 219,377 reviews, written over many years.
99% from abroad
Among guests who left a review, as of October 2026
- From abroad 99%
- From within Sri Lanka 1%
Top countries abroad
Among guests who left a review
Top origin cities
Among guests who left a review
By town
Most Booked Towns in Sri Lanka
Colombo, Ella and Kandy took 24% of Airbnb stays in Sri Lanka in the 12 months to October 2026. January is the busiest Airbnb month in 11 of the 19 towns, led by Mirissa, and February in 4, led by Ella. Among guests who left a review, the share from abroad across these towns runs from 94% in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte to over 99% in Ella.
| Colombo | 10,784 |
| Ella | 7,004 |
| Kandy | 5,428 |
| Mirissa | 5,422 |
| Dikwella | 4,630 |
| Galle | 4,199 |
| Ahangama West | 3,853 |
| Hikkaduwa | 3,746 |
| Weligama | 3,490 |
| Ahangama | 3,418 |
| Negombo | 3,392 |
| Sigiriya | 3,117 |
| Matara | 2,448 |
| Nuwara Eliya | 2,083 |
| Tangalle | 1,844 |
| Talpe | 1,691 |
| Unawatuna | 1,686 |
| Rumassala | 1,186 |
| Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte | 1,108 |
* Among guests who left a review. Stays, nights and other figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, and cover Airbnb only. Lists the 19 of Sri Lanka's 63 towns with 100 or more Airbnb homes. A town with no tourism page of its own links to its Airbnb market page.
FAQ
Questions About Tourism in Sri Lanka
How many tourists visit Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka had 2,362,521 international tourist arrivals in 2025, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. Domestic trips are not in that count. AirROI estimates 97,181 Airbnb stays in Sri Lanka in the 12 months to October 2026, which is a separate count of bookings.
When is high season in Sri Lanka?
The busiest Airbnb month in Sri Lanka in the 12 months to October 2026 was January, then February and December. The five busiest months run from November to March.
What is the quietest month in Sri Lanka?
May was the quietest Airbnb month in Sri Lanka in the 12 months to October 2026, ranking 12th of 12, and June ranked 11th. Stays in May were booked about 27 days ahead, against 50 days for February.
How long is a typical Airbnb stay in Sri Lanka?
A typical Airbnb stay in Sri Lanka lasted 5.1 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 40 days ahead. By month, stays ran from 3.9 nights in September to 6.1 nights in December.
Where do Airbnb guests in Sri Lanka come from?
Of Sri Lanka Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 99% came from abroad, AirROI estimates. The largest groups were Germany at 18% and the United Kingdom at 17%. Among the same guests, the top origin city was London at 4.5%, ahead of Berlin at 2.4%.
What is the most booked town in Sri Lanka on Airbnb?
Colombo was the most booked town in Sri Lanka on Airbnb, with an estimated 10,784 stays in the 12 months to October 2026, ahead of Ella and Kandy.
Are Airbnb stays the same as tourists?
No. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority counts international tourist arrivals (2,362,521 in 2025). An Airbnb stay is one booking on one platform, however many guests it holds. AirROI's 97,181 stays are estimates for the 12 months to October 2026.
Method
How These Numbers Are Made
Official figures come from their publishers, linked above, and were last checked in November 2026. Stays and nights are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, built from Airbnb listing data, and cover Airbnb only. Nights add up each town's stays times its typical stay, across 63 towns. Month ranks compare each month's part of Airbnb nights. Origin rests on 219,377 reviews and describes guests who left a review, not everyone who stayed. Read the method page.