COLOMBO – Sri Lanka has received 2,234 tourists from Israel in the 52 days from November 1, official government data showed, despite threats over a possible attack on an eastern coastal tourism hotspot where most Israeli tourists gather.

The number of tourists from Israel has increased to 24,147 as of December 22, compared to 21,913 at the end of October 31, the latest weekly tourism data showed. The island nation saw 19,517 Israeli tourists last year.

Israel on October 23 asked its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Sri Lanka, leave coastal tourist areas including Arugam Bay and stop overt displays of the Hebrew language in clothes or other signs that could lead to identification, following a travel advisory from the US embassy in Colombo warning its citizens not to travel to Arugam Bay as there was credible information of an attack.

Seven countries – the US, Israel, Russia, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia – issued travel advisories after at least three foreign intelligence agencies alerted of a possible attack in Arugam Bay.

However, the travel advisories were later removed amid the government’s efforts to tighten security in the concerned areas.

Cabinet spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said on Tuesday (24) that the safety and security of all tourists had been ensured after the attack rumour. The police are still investigating the possible terror plot with six arrested, including a Maldivian national.

These seven countries have accounted for 29% of the 1.48 million tourist arrivals in the first nine months of this year.

Soon after the travel advisories were issued, tourism operators raised concerns over possible cancellation of bookings.

Any adverse impacts on the tourism industry could derail Sri Lanka’s recovery from an unprecedented economic crisis after declaring sovereign debt default in 2022. Though tourism has been one of the key components in the island nation’s economic recovery, it is likely to miss its 2.3 million tourist target and end up with around 2 million, industry analysts have said.

Sri Lanka has received 1.97 million tourists in 2024 through December 22, which is much higher than last year’s total arrivals of 1,487,303, the data showed.

Tourists from India have accounted for 20% of the arrivals up to December 22 this year, followed by Russia accounting for 9.6%.

-economynext.com