Tourists cancel holiday plans to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is facing its worst crisis and just when the tourism industry was trying to raise its head tourists are calling to cancel their holiday plans on the back of harsh travel advisories. The industry is wandering in the dark with no one to turn to as the Minister has resigned.
Transporting tourists has become an issue, as was the case this week with one such driver who had headed to Ella with a group of tourists and had run out of diesel. To continue on their tour to Tissamaharama he had called Colombo for help to try and get some diesel from a bowser that was arriving at Bandarawela. As a result, tourists were compelled to stay back for one more day in Ella before proceeding.
Convener of One Industry, One Voice and Immediate Past President of Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) Mahen Kariyawasam told the Business Times that the industry is currently facing about 30-40 per cent cancellations.
In fact in the wake of the strong Indian media coverage of the economic crisis and political instability in Sri Lanka even the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) that was scheduled to arrive this week has rescheduled their plans for July, he said. About 500 participants were scheduled to take part in this event.
Another cancellation has been the three flights per week charter operation from Kazakhstan due to the current crisis in Sri Lanka. Mr. Kariyawasam pointed out that while tourists visiting through a tour operator were looked after well, others arriving on their own were finding it difficult since trains got cancelled and even moving around has become a problem for them.
Moreover, with no gas and electricity the smaller hotels are facing a crisis situation as tourists have to enjoy their holiday in the dark.
Inspite of the emergencies that the country is facing in light of the current fuel and electricity crisis, the industry is trying to work things out on their own as the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairperson Kimarli Fernando is said to be still focused on bringing about a change in the Tourism Act.
Mr. Kariyawasam noted that the Chairperson has not held any discussions with them on the current crisis and how to resolve it or issued any statement that will allay the fears of tourists and inform their respective governments against issuing adverse travel advisories.
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