Cyclone Ditwah Wreaks Havoc: Travellers Trapped As Sri Lanka Faces Its Worst Storm In Years!

Published on December 1, 2025

The devastation caused by the Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka has claimed a number of human lives, and the impact on the population is quite severe. Deaths, dislocations of entire families and destruction of their houses represent the first wave of catastrophes. However, quite apart from the immediate humanitarian crisis, it is another issue that must be dealt with urgently: tourism industry impact. The flood, landslides, flights canceled, and tourists stuck, Sri Lanka’s sector recovery which had just started to be an upward slope is now at risk due to the cyclone’s effects.

Disaster strikes at a delicate moment for tourism

In recent months, Sri Lanka had begun to slowly rebuild its tourism sector after years of crisis, from political turmoil, economic instability, pandemic shock, to other disasters. The arrival of Cyclone Ditwah has come just as the industry was witnessing encouraging forward bookings, especially from India, Europe and the UK. Hotels across the country had started to report a cautious optimism.

However, the cycle of hope has been violently interrupted. According to official reports, the storm, which formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal and made landfall on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast late in November, brought torrential rains exceeding 300 millimetres in some districts, along with strong winds of up to 70–80 km per hour.

Flooding and landslides followed. Schools were shut, train services suspended, and scores of homes destroyed. In many regions, landslides wiped out entire neighbourhoods, especially in central and eastern districts. The death toll has climbed rapidly, and thousands have been displaced, forced into temporary shelters.

From stranded travellers to disrupted flights

The fallout for tourists has been harsh and immediate. With roads underwater or blocked by landslides, many travellers, both foreign and domestic, found themselves stranded. Some could not reach airports; others were stuck in hill-district towns such as Nuwara Eliya, Kandy or Ella, as transport networks collapsed.

Flights at the main international hub, Bandaranaike International Airport, and regional airports were diverted, delayed or cancelled. Reports suggest multiple flights bound for Colombo were redirected, leaving passengers marooned with little recourse.

For many visitors, communication became a nightmare, power outages, downed cell towers and patchy updates meant travellers had no clear idea which roads were open or where to turn for help. Some hotels tried their best to assist, but in many cases the damage to transport and infrastructure simply overwhelmed even the most prepared establishments.

Mixed official signals and a credibility crisis

A crucial dimension of how this disaster impacts tourism is not just the destruction, but how it’s framed. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) issued a release during the storm saying that major tourist destinations remain safe and open for travel, with hotels and services operating as usual.

But that statement clashed with what was visible on the ground, flooded towns, blocked roads, stranded tourists, and with growing foreign travel advisories warning of flooding, landslides and transport collapse. That divergence threatens more than short-term bookings: it undermines confidence in Sri Lanka’s ability to manage crisis and communicate transparently.

History offers painful precedents: after past disasters, swift and consistent messaging helped some destinations bounce back, while inconsistent or reactive communication delayed recovery. The contrast looms sharply today.

A fragile recovery could stall, tourism in a critical danger zone

Industry insiders warn that Sri Lanka may lose 5–10 per cent of expected high-season demand unless the narrative stabilises quickly. Much of that loss is likely to come from higher-yield travellers, the kind that European tour operators, corporate incentive groups and long-haul holidaymakers represent.

Many tourists scheduled to arrive in the days after the cyclone have already cancelled or postponed their trips. Some are shifting travel plans to early next year, while others remain indecisive. The booking curve, which had shown tentative signs of steady recovery, is likely to flatten in the short term.

And for the sector to survive this shock, more than immediate aid is needed: what matters is how authorities and tourism stakeholders respond in the next few weeks. Will they restore access quickly and transparently? Will they rebuild trust by acknowledging realities instead of downplaying them? The answers may decide whether tourism in Sri Lanka recovers, or falters.

Looking ahead: Can Sri Lanka rebuild confidence and travel momentum?

Despite the devastation, several factors offer a cautious path forward. The government has declared a public emergency to help mobilise relief more efficiently, and international assistance has been requested. The SLTDA, along with other tourism stakeholders, has reiterated that the majority of tourist-destination areas remain unaffected, providing some basis for hope.

However, the process of recovery will require very much clear, frank and harmonious communication, not only regarding safety measures and restrictions but also in connection with the areas where infrastructure has been repaired and where still the caution is required. Tour operators and travelers will be looking closely as well.