Sri Lanka’s Renewed Tourism Hopes Crushed by Doubts in Biggest Source Market
Photo Credit: Tourism in Sri Lanka suffers another setback Pixabay / Lahiru Supunchandra
Skift Take
Sri Lanka’s biggest inbound market — India — is turning towards alternative destinations. The current Sri Lankan political turmoil threatens to cripple the tourism industry, which is worth more than $3.6 billion to the country and is the third largest foreign exchange earner.
Plagued by a series of setbacks dating back to pre-Covid times, Sri Lanka’s tourism prospects had just started looking up, but that recovery may now be short-lived.
Faced with what is said to be the worst economic crisis in the country, Sri Lanka has been witnessing a spate of anti-government protests against worsening shortages of food, fuel and medicines amidst record power outages. Following a curfew and declaration of a state of emergency, a social media blackout in the country occurred on Sunday.
However, reassuring tour operators and visitors to Sri Lanka in a communication dated April 4, a copy reviewed by Skift, tourism secretary S Hettiarachchi wrote that the tourism ministry would work to ensure an uninterrupted supply of fuel and power to tourism establishments.
“We will ensure the successful delivery of the holiday experiences expected by the tourists visiting Sri Lanka over Easter period and beyond," he said.
However, travel
