Sri Lankans spend 62% more on foreign travel in 2026
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Newswire, citing the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s latest External Sector Performance report, says spending on travel abroad totalled US$937.2 million in the first nine months of 2026, compared with US$577 million in the same period of 2025, an increase of 62.4%.
Newswire reports that in September, overseas travel expenditure rose 64.9% year on year, reaching US$122 million against US$74 million a year earlier. The increase contributed to higher services-related outflows that month.
Newswire reports that total services outflows grew 36.7% in September to US$440.8 million, from US$322.4 million in September 2025. The services account surplus for the month fell 34.3% to US$119 million.
Newswire says the cumulative services account surplus dropped 22.3% to US$2.21 billion over the first nine months of 2026. The Central Bank attributed the decline mainly to increased payments for travel and air transport services, which exceeded growth in services inflows.
Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.
Earlier coverage
Reports on the same subject from the months before this story.
- Daily FT · Tourist arrivals up 3% in 1H of October
- Newswire · Sri Lanka earns over US$ 2.2 Bn in tourism revenue in first nine months of 2026
- Daily FT · Tourist arrivals rise 5% in first 22 days of October
- Newsfirst · Sri Lanka Earns US$13.6 Bn in Exports in Just Nine Months
- Newswire · Sri Lanka earns less from tourists despite welcoming nearly 1.7 million visitors