Colombo: Sri Lanka witnessed a significant decline in tourist arrivals in March, with authorities attributing the drop to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the country had recorded 277,327 arrivals in January and 279,328 in February, reflecting a steady upward trend. However, this momentum was disrupted in March, when arrivals fell sharply to 183,979.
The SLTDA stated that the sudden dip was largely due to the impact of the war in the Gulf and Middle East regions, which has affected travel patterns and tourist movement.
Tourism is a key sector for Sri Lanka’s economy, and the decline is expected to have short-term implications if the geopolitical situation continues to remain uncertain.
