Sri Lanka recorded a 25-30% decline in tourist arrivals during the first part of March compared with previous months, Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe said, attributing the slowdown to disruptions linked to the ongoing US-Israel conflict involving Iran.

He said the decline reflected a noticeable slowdown in the pace of arrivals compared with the steady growth recorded in recent months.

Prof. Ranasinghe noted that the Middle East plays an important role as a transit hub for European travellers heading to Sri Lanka, with airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways serving as key connectors.

“There has been an overall decline in tourist arrivals of around 25-30 % this month compared with previous months, due to the ongoing US-Israel conflict against Iran,” he said.

According to him, the conflict has affected travel flows through major Middle Eastern aviation hubs, reducing the number of European tourists travelling to Sri Lanka via those routes.

“The Middle East is considered a transit point for tourists travelling from Europe to Sri Lanka. Airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways, play a key role in bringing tourists to the country.”

He said some tourists are now reaching Sri Lanka through alternative connecting points such as Muscat in Oman and Cairo in Egypt, while direct routes also operate to cities including Frankfurt and London.

“While direct travel from Europe to Sri Lanka has declined, tourists are arriving via connecting flights through Muscat in Oman and Cairo in Egypt. There are also direct flights from Sri Lanka to destinations like Frankfurt and London. The majority of tourists continue to come from India, but arrivals from the Middle East have seen a decline.”

Despite the slowdown, data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) estimated 66,996 tourist arrivals for March so far. India remained the largest source market, followed by the United Kingdom, the Russian Federation, and Germany.