• Inbound tour operators likely to offer packages targeting Indian tourists  
• Hotels to target local travellers following cancellations, forward bookings bleak

Tourism industry stakeholders met yesterday for the first time to assess the impact of COVID-19 and discuss the way forward.

The Daily FT learns that members of Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) yesterday discussed the challenges and strategies needed to overcome the double blow of the Easter Sunday attacks and the novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.

Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals fell by 17.7% to 207,507 in February 2020 compared to a year earlier, largely affected by the sharp drop in visitors from China with the COVID-19 outbreak.

Tour operators and travel agents have flagged that they are reeling from widespread holiday cancellations and forward bookings in Sri Lanka by tourists following the rapid outbreak of COVID-19.

Sources said that inbound tour operators are likely to offer further promotional packages to tourists, particularly by collaborating with the national carrier SriLankan Airlines, targeting Indian tourists.

In addition, hoteliers are also planning to roll out promotions targeting local travellers, as occupancy levels have plunged following cancellations and poor forward bookings.

BIA reopened for visitors from today

China drops out from SL’s top 10 tourist source markets