Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has recorded a slower start to March 2026 as flight disruptions across Middle Eastern aviation hubs affected travel routes. Only 23,116 tourists arrived between March 1 and March 4, marking a 25% decline compared to the same period in 2025.
The drop is largely linked to widespread flight cancellations and restricted airspace in the Middle East, which disrupted key transit routes used by many travellers heading to Sri Lanka. Nearly 34% of visitors to the island typically transit through Gulf hubs, making the disruptions particularly impactful.
Despite the early March slowdown, total tourist arrivals for 2026 have reached 579,771, reflecting a 10.7% increase compared to the same period last year.
