Sri Lanka tourism players are rushing to restore normalcy across the country after Cyclone Dilwah’s impact last week. This task is particularly urgent, as November and December are peak months for inbound tourism.
An official at the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority said a PR campaign is in the works “to tell the world that Sri Lanka is recovering and safe for travel”.
The country relies heavily on tourism revenue and is targeting 2.3 million to 2.5 million arrivals this year. However, arrival numbers may fall short of targets due to the latest natural calamity.
Asoka Hettigoda, president of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, told TTG Asia that tourism sellers are resuming operations quickly.
“More than 75 per cent of our hotels are unaffected, and national parks are open. Also, 90 per cent of activities for tourists are up and running, like dolphin- and whale-watching on the south and western coastline,” Hettigoda said, adding that the industry has requested loans from the authorities to refurbish affected hotels and to also delay loan repayments.
“Tourism is a key sector that benefits communities through the trickle-down effect and as such, we need tourists to visit our country,” he added.
Nishad Wijetunga, managing director at Wayfarers and former president of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Operators, said roads to tourist sites are being cleared, particularly in the hill stations of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, two popular resorts.
Wijetunga added that tourism authorities have interviewed travellers in Sri Lanka and will be using those videos to encourage other travellers to maintain their travel plans.
In a positive turn of events, Sri Lanka welcomed luxury cruise liner Mein Schiff 06, operated by TUI Cruises, on December 2. It brought 2,300 passengers to the country through Colombo Port.
