Tourism industry unfazed by security warnings: SLTDA Chief

Saturday, 26 October 2024 03:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Buddhika Hewawasam says security concerns addressed promptly, tourists report satisfaction with safety measures
Claims visa processing delays had greater impact on tourism goals this year, than recent travel advisories
Revises 2024 original forecast downwards from 2.3 m to 2 m arrivals; from over $ 4 b to $ 3 b revenue

By Charumini de Silva

SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam yesterday said the sector remains resilient in the face of recent security advisories issued by foreign embassies.

“Although the security situation initially generated concern, the hyped-out tone has now eased with no medium or long-term impact expected on tourism industry and targets,” he told the Daily FT.

Hewawasam believes the situation will stabilise further in the coming days. “Security of travellers was our priority and with support from law enforcement agencies, we quickly addressed any potential concerns. Leading trade associations and tourists themselves confirmed their satisfaction during our engagement with them,” he added.

When asked if the security concerns had affected SLTDA’s original targets for 2024, the Chairman clarified that the visa processing crisis which lasted from 17 April to 26 September had more of an impact than the recent travel warnings.

He suggested that reaching the original 2024 goal of 2.3 million arrivals and $ 4.5 billion in revenue based on benchmark year 2018 was overly ambitious. Instead, Hewawasam expects the year to close with 2 million arrivals and slightly above $ 3 billion in income.

During the first 20 days of October, Sri Lanka welcomed 85,836 tourists, bringing the total to over 1.57 million arrivals so far in 2024. The daily average during the first 20 days of October reached 4,292 tourists.

SLTDA originally planned to draw 2.3 million tourists and generate an income of over $ 4 billion.

“For the next five year, we have set an ambitious goal to attract 5 million tourists and generate $ 8.5 billion in revenue, driven by consistent year-on-year (YoY) growth,” he said.

Sri Lanka to crack down on unlicenced tourist-run business amid visa overstays

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