Friday Apr 10, 2026
Friday Apr 10, 2026
Friday, 10 April 2026 00:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has seen a sharp slowdown in early April as escalating conflict in the Middle East disrupted global air travel, although overall arrivals for the year remain marginally positive.
Latest data show tourist arrivals fell 22% year-on-year (YoY) to 39,627 in the first eight days of April, down from 50,542 in the same period last year. Average daily arrivals also dropped to 4,953, compared to 6,318 a year earlier, highlighting the scale of the disruption to inbound travel.
Despite the setback, cumulative arrivals reached 780,261 by 8 April, reflecting a modest 1% YoY increase, supported by strong inflows in the first two months of the year before the crisis intensified.
The UK followed with 4,045 tourists, while Australia ranked third with 3,394 arrivals. China and Russia registered 2,643 and 2,064 visitors, respectively, alongside steady inflows from Germany, France, Bangladesh, the US, and Switzerland.
Year-to-date (YTD) figures highlighted the continued reliance on core markets, with India contributing 158,628 visitors, followed by the UK with 82,465, and Russia with 67,982.
Industry analysts warn that prolonged geopolitical tensions could weigh further on travel demand if aviation disruptions persist, potentially challenging Sri Lanka’s tourism targets for the year.
