There are reports of a decline in tourist arrivals in March compared to the first two months of 2026.
Industry sources say that 277,327 tourists arrived in Sri Lanka in January and 279,328 in February. However, only 23,116 tourists arrived in Sri Lanka between March 1 and March 4, while 30,824 tourists arrived during the same four-day period in 2025, the sources say. Accordingly, it marks a decline of about 25%.
Tourism sources say that this situation has arisen due to the cancellation of flights due to the war situation in the Middle East and the presence of war preparations around the world. However, it is reported that this situation will soon return to normal as Sri Lanka has the opportunity to attract tourists who are staying away from the Gulf region due to the war situation.