Sri Lanka, April 23 -- The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is negatively affecting Sri Lanka's tourism industry, particularly as the peak tourist season approaches, Tourism Deputy Minister and MP Ruwan Ranasinghe said.

He said a significant number of European tourists travel to Sri Lanka via transit hubs in the Middle East, especially through airlines such as Emirates and Qatar Airways. As a result, disruptions in the region are impacting tourist arrivals.

The Deputy Minister said that arrivals have declined by 20 percent since March, compared to 2025 figures. As of April 19, around 88,000 tourists had arrived in the country.

He also said total arrivals are expected to reach about 120,000 by the end of April, which is a notable dro...