“So Sri Lanka” global launch at WTM tomorrow
The October 26 developments with the entry of a new Prime Minister unnerved the tourism industry, causing political instability and resulting in a few cancellations. The upcoming winter season is also likely to be adversely impacted. The only positive vibe is the launch of Sri Lanka’s new branding at the global travel fair in London tomorrow.
“Winter was looking good and we hope it will not stop,” one industry leader told the Business Times. However, he noted that except for a few cancellations there were no significant cancellations so far.
The winter peak season commencing December is the key period during which Sri Lanka receives the highest number of travellers to the country particularly from the European markets like the UK, France and Germany and now even from India and China.
Other industry analysts explained that there is likely to be a slowdown in the numbers travelling to the country should the current political impasse continue.
Some 40 global tour operators who met members of the Sri Lanka delegation on Thursday in London prior to the commencement of the World Travel Mart (WTM) have only assumed the current situation to be a political issue.
Sri Lankan tour operators believe that should the current situation be brought under control there could be a return to normalcy.
In fact they noted that the situation was not likely to bring about any sort of damage control since the current political issues have not hit perceptions of global tour operators.
The UK, US and Canada have issued travel warnings to their nationals indicating that there could be demonstrations while Canada has also noted that the Sri Lankan President’s moves to dismiss the Prime Minister “may lead to a period of political instability.
Travel agents believe the situation is likely to lead to a number of travellers wanting to postpone their visits to Sri Lanka.
On Tuesday, tourism industry officials met the new Tourism Minister Wasantha Senanayake who gave the go-ahead for the brand launch scheduled to take place at the WTM in London starting tomorrow.
Officials also sought intervention of the state to issue an assurance that normalcy prevails in the country.
The minister had also assured the industry that he would issue a statement from the Tourism Ministry to assure travellers of their safety during their visit to the country.