Tourists face “corona” calls as arrivals drop
Sri Lanka saw a significant 46 per cent drop in tourist arrivals this month so far compared to last year as the airport and seaport closed to incoming passengers on Thursday by authorities in a bid to contain the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Tourism authorities indicated there were 70,754 tourists arriving in the country during the first 16 days of this month compared to 130,985 during the same period in 2019.
Tour operators too had urged authorities to stop arrivals for about two weeks as they continued to face problems while taking their clients around the country.
Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Mahen Kariyawasam told the Business Times that during a meeting with Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando they had indicated that it was best to stop arrivals for at least a period of two weeks.
He noted that currently there were certain tourist locations like the wildlife parks and the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage that were closed to visitors.
In addition they had also faced resistance from the locals at the Negombo fish market, during a cycling tour in Wattala and even some restaurants in Badulla “didn’t want to serve lunch” to the tourists, he explained. Given the prevailing circumstances some prefer to return to their home countries while other tourists want to continue to stay and enjoy their holiday, it was noted.
In fact the locals have now assumed it is the foreign travellers that bring in the virus to the country and are in the habit of referring to the tourists as “corona” while they tour the destination.
In another turn of events, tourists were also facing issues as they did not comply with wearing face masks while touring the country.
Amali De Soysa, a tour guide for ‘You Lanka’ said that she also faced a big problem since the tourists ‘don’t like to wear the face mask’.
She noted as provided by her company they had been asked to do so and though she, her driver and helper wore the mask it was not complied with by the tourists. Tourists have been shunned while travelling in trains and entering shops as they travel without face masks saying they do not have the virus, she explained.