📈 Sri Lanka Tourism Slows in Early April Amid Middle East Conflict

The tourism sector faced a significant deceleration in the first week of April as regional geopolitical tensions disrupted global air travel, though cumulative annual figures remain slightly ahead of 2025. • Arrivals Performance: Daily average arrivals fell to 4,953, down from 6,318 last year. In the first eight days of April, arrivals dropped 22% YoY to 39,627. • Year-to-Date (YTD) Trends: Total arrivals reached 780,261 as of April 8, maintaining a modest 1% YoY growth. This growth is primarily attributed to strong performance in January and February. • Top Source Markets (April 1–8): India remains the primary contributor with 7,495 arrivals, followed by the UK (4,045) and Australia (3,394). Other notable contributors include China (2,643) and Russia (2,064). • Cumulative Market Shares: The tourism sector continues to rely on key traditional markets. India leads YTD with 158,628 visitors, followed by the UK (82,465) and Russia (67,982). • Outlook: Industry analysts warn that prolonged aviation disruptions and Middle East tensions may threaten national targets for 2026 if travel demand remains suppressed.