Thursday Nov 21, 2024
Thursday Nov 21, 2024
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The on-going stay of over 300 French guests for the Raid Amazones program in Sigiriya and upcoming visit by an equal number in a weeks’ time is ample proof of to justify tourism industry assurance. Here are some of the French adventure tourists elated on their arrival earlier this week
The private sector this week assured foreign missions that there will be no hardships for tourists with the industry fully geared in terms of fuel as well as food and other supplies.
Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Thilak Weerasinghe and The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) President M. Shanthikumar have issued a joint written assurance to this effect to all foreign missions, tour operator partners and potential visitors.
“As apex bodies responsible for destination Sri Lanka, we wish to reassure all visitors to Sri Lanka travelling through entities registered with Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority that they can be rest assured that their holidays will be delivered without disruption,” the letter by
SLAITO and THASL stated.
The two associations together with Sri Lanka Tourism have ensured continuous supply of fuel for tourist vehicles and hotel generators. These measures were put in place with effect from 4 March.
The letter also stated hotels are well stocked with food and other supplies to ensure that all visitors will not be inconvenienced.
“We are confident that all visitors can be looked after without any interruptions to their itineraries. There is ample proof to justify these claims with the over 300 French guests currently in the Sigiriya area participating at the Raid Amazones program and a further over 300 expected in the coming weeks. We are confident that we can cater to the needs of all tourists visiting Sri Lanka during this time,” SLAITO and THASL reiterated.
The duo said they are aware of the various negative news circulating on social media and also the travel advisors that have been put in place. “This situation has been created mainly by a delay in receiving fuel shipments and some disruptions to fuel distribution as a result, which has been further impacted by panic buying,” they said.
The letter emphasised that it was the responsibility of the SLAITO and THASL to appraise those concerned of the actual ground situation hence the communique.
On Wednesday, Sri Lanka expressed concerns over the latest UK Travel Advisory and called for a positive revision.
Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris pointed to inaccuracies contained in the UK Travel Advisory on Sri Lanka in its successive revisions, resulting in the projection of a negative image of the country. He conveyed this to the UK authorities at a high level on 15 March.
In this regard, the Foreign Minister has observed that the reference in the travel advisory to the likelihood of terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka and their indiscriminate nature, is contrary to the ground reality, when the country remains vibrant, secure and peaceful, welcoming visitors from all over the world.
The Minister cautioned that such inaccuracies in the travel advisory could exacerbate the prevailing economic vulnerabilities at a time when the country’s tourism industry has just begun to revive itself consequent to the global pandemic and when the country is most in need of foreign remittances to reinvigorate its economy.
At the same time, the Minister welcomed the increase in tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka in the first two months of this year, with the UK being the third largest source of tourist traffic to the country.
The Foreign Minister also called upon the UK authorities to positively revise the UK Travel Advisory on Sri Lanka to better reflect the practical realities in the country.
