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Sri Lanka tourist arrivals plunge in March as Middle East war disrupts travel plans
International
Published on 24 April 2026
March arrivals fell far below January and February
Sri Lanka saw a sharp drop in tourist arrivals in March, with numbers falling to 183,979 from over 277,000 across January and February. The decline is linked to the West Asia conflict, which is disrupting transit hubs and reshaping travel itineraries. Despite the downturn, India remains the largest inbound source, supported by proximity and direct flights.
- March tourist arrivals dropped to 183979 from 277000-plus earlier
- Middle East conflict disrupted transit hubs and travel plans
- India stayed the biggest inbound market with resilient demand
- Direct flights and proximity helped cushion the decline
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times