Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe announced plans to introduce a special QR code system to facilitate fuel access for the tourism sector. 

Speaking to the media today (16), he confirmed that authorities had held discussions and aim to roll out the new system by this evening.

“This system was used in the past, and we are optimistic about implementing it again to ensure that tourism-related businesses can operate smoothly,” Ranasinghe stated. He also mentioned that all necessary preparations for the initiative have been completed.

Addressing current tourism trends, the deputy minister noted a 25-30% decline in arrivals from the Middle East, attributing the decrease to ongoing regional conflicts. 

He explained that while tourists arriving via transit flights from the Middle East have reduced, those arriving through direct flights are still coming, albeit in smaller numbers.