Sri Lanka to minimise tourism disruption as war impacts fuel supply

Sri Lanka is making “special arrangements” for tour operators and hotels as limits on buying fuel have been applied due to the Middle East conflict.

To preserve fuel, the government of Sri Lanka has implemented a four-day working week for all government officials except those operating essential services (health, ports, water supply and customs). As a result, non-essential government services will not be available on Wednesdays. Schools and universities will also be closed, with work-from-home arrangements being implementing across impacted sectors. 

Vehicles in Sri Lanka will be allocated a weekly fuel quota, but special arrangements will be implemented for tour operators and hotels to minimise tourism disruption. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) is arranging a different fuel quota for the tourism sector, which can be applied for through its website.

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The Middle East conflict continues to cause widespread travel disruption, due to airspace closures and flight delays, suspensions and cancellations, in addition to the rise in fuel costs compounded by the increase in route distances due to diversions. 

According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, after just 17 days of conflict, more than 52,000 of approximately 98,000 scheduled flights to and from the Middle East had been cancelled, affecting an estimated 6 million passenger trips.

Many flights between the Middle East and Sri Lanka continue to be suspended. The SLTDA has also set up a hotline offering guidance and support to visitors affected by airspace closures in the Gulf region.

For more information, visit www.sltda.gov.lk/en