Extension of state of emergency to hit tourism industry hard

28 July 2022 11:23 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 14

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Tourist arrivals expected to further dip
More countries likely to impose travel bans on SL
Sector was of view Prez RW will lift emergency

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam
The decision to extend the state of emergency for a month by Parliament yesterday will further hit the tourism industry that is expected to bring in the necessary foreign exchange to Sri Lanka, as more countries could slap travel bans on Sri Lanka.

Shortly after the proclamation by Parliament yesterday, they said while declaring a state of emergency was bad enough to the hard-hit sector, the decision to continue with it is an extremely negative signal.

“Our arrivals to the country will further drop in the coming weeks and months. We cannot promote or sell a destination when a state of emergency is imposed. This is well known. It is going to get tougher for us as we go forward,” The Hotels Association Sri Lanka (THASL) President M. Shanthikumar said.

He shared that the tourism sector stakeholders were of the view that President Ranil Wickremesinghe would lift the state of emergency without much delay.

However, last evening, Parliament voted to continue the state of emergency with 120 members voting for and 63 voting against.

Reflecting similar sentiments, the Sri Lanka Association of Tourism Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) said the proclamation would negatively impact on tourist arrivals.

The SLAITO said more governments would issue travel advisories against Sri Lanka and it is near impossible to remove the advisories that are already in place.

“It just gets worse. With travel advisories issued against the nation, tourists do not feel safe coming in. Also, making matters worse is that insurance companies are not keen to offer travel insurance policies in nations with emergency imposed. Even if they do, the policies are very expensive. This doesn’t augur well for us,” said SLAITO Immediate Past President Mahen Kariyawasam.

Comments - 14

joshua Thursday, 28 July 2022 12:29 PM

Politicians in this country are there to screw the people. Hence, not surprising at all.

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Sira Thursday, 28 July 2022 12:38 PM

Will tourist come here in SL while SL citizens trying to flee the country ... within last 30 days Mr.President himself and one of the Aragalaya leaders planed to leave ...

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Sandy Thursday, 28 July 2022 01:05 PM

Easter bombing was just the beginning of a grand plan to destroy Sri Lanka economically. The people who pretended ignorance about zaharan have suddenly become active and are busy with ideas to save the economy

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BuffaloaCitizen Thursday, 28 July 2022 01:06 PM

Actually those fellows who voted for it in parliament have done a lot for the country and bought enough resources to the nation to make so resplendent the way it is now.

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Chux Thursday, 28 July 2022 01:13 PM

This Rajapaksha junta government has failed to give relief whatsoever to the tourism industry

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[email protected] Thursday, 28 July 2022 01:15 PM

Minister of tourism also voted for ! You can simply see the selfish thought process !

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Sambo Thursday, 28 July 2022 01:25 PM

Please forget about tourism. This is not the only tourist destination in the world. There are better and cheaper destinations to visit.

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Day Dreamers Thursday, 28 July 2022 01:37 PM

Tourism industry or Ranil and Rajapakshas future is very important now.

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Jundappu Palanisinha Thursday, 28 July 2022 01:42 PM

Grea newst!! Ponna group of 110 people may be laughing now!!

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mahen Thursday, 28 July 2022 01:52 PM

without emergency if these argalaya boys run riot will tourist come to SL

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Decentgent Thursday, 28 July 2022 02:04 PM

Imposing emergency at this time when SL in dire straits with foreign reserves have hit zero. Emergency will have a big impact on the tourists arrival and also the apparel industry including export oriented businesses. Its high time Ranil reverses the imposition of Emergency. Strange that the govt MPs voted in favour of it without considering the impact it will have on the growth of the economy, the export sector, tourism and also movement of public. Our set of the parliament MPs should be more wise and independent in taking decisions to vote for any matters in the parliament.

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Siripala Thursday, 28 July 2022 02:06 PM

Interesting - Over to Harin and his Gura.

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Waco Friday, 29 July 2022 01:22 PM

Rankled is not interested about the economy of the country. What he wants is to take revenge from the protesters.

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Haleeb Friday, 29 July 2022 02:20 PM

Tourists love their security. Armed guards will protect them where ever they go.

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