The number of travelers from the Middle East visiting Sri Lanka has soared by 85% since the war there ended. Middle East director of the Sri Lanken Tourism Promotion Bureau said the growth in the number of travelers from Saudi Arabia in June was extraordinary “with Saudi travelers up by 186% and UAE travelers up by 181 per cent compared to the same month last year.”

Heba Al Ghais Al Mansoon said the number of travelers from other Gulf countries including Oman, Qatar as well as Egypt and Lebanon also contributed substantially to the growth in tourism arrivals. She said they hope to improve the tourist arrival numbers during the Eid break   She said there is more awareness among the travel trade and consumers about “Sri Lanka as a preferred destination.”