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Media coverage on the online discussion on the impact of COVID-19 on SL tourism industry
The Advocata Institute hosted an online discussion on Zoom with Kimarli Fernando (Chairperson, Sri Lanka Tourism), Vipula Gunatilleka (CEO, SriLankan Airlines), Sanath Ukwatte (Chairman, Sri Lanka Hotel Association), Mahen Kariyawasam (President, Sri Lanka Inbound Travel Operators); moderated by Murtaza Jafferjee (Chair, Advocata Institute) on the impact of COVID-19 on Sri Lanka’s Tourism Industry. The discussion explored the current challenges faced by the Sri Lankan tourism industry and the road to recovery.
The Morning: Top tourism trio outline predicament, preparation, prospects
The Covid-19 pandemic is now estimated to put 50 million jobs in the global travel and tourism industry at a risk, with travel set to go down by 25% this year and Asia being the most affected continent, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, which represents the international tourism industry. Statistics from the council site show that the global tourism industry currently accounts for 10% of global GDP, having contributed $ 8.8 trillion to the global economy in 2018, and is responsible for over 319 million jobs worldwide. Similar to this, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is a major contributor to the country’s GDP, with its direct contribution being 4.9% in 2018 according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) annual report. Last year, the country saw the arrival of 1.9 million tourists, a drop from 2018’s 2.3 million, due to the Easter Sunday attack.
Ceylon Today: Recovering from the Tourism Meltdown
As an island nation, tourism has been Sri Lanka’s bread and butter for quite some time and has provided livelihoods for many. However, the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) and the subsequent responses from nations worldwide led to a global tourism meltdown.
In an online discussion organised by the Advocata Institute, leading tourism industry heads and regulators elaborated on the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, amidst the global pandemic.
Economy Next: Sri Lanka tourism sector braces for 12-month slump on COVID-19 hit
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is bracing for a year long downturn with the Coronavirus crisis coming on top of a hit from Easter Sunday attacks in April 2019, but there were tentative bookings for next year already, officials said.
Sri Lanka Hotel Association, Chairman, Sanath Ukwatte said two crises coming on top of each other had hit the industry but it had gone through bad times earlier and somehow recovered. The government and banks had also given debt moratorium. “Recovery seems 6, 8 month or maybe a year,” Ukwatte told an online forum organized by Advocata Institute, a Colombo-based think tank.
Economy Next: Sri Lanka cabinet clears global tourism promotion campaign
Sri Lanka’ cabinet of ministers had cleared a global promotion plan proposed by the tourism promotion office with no modifications but it may be changed to suit post-COVID needs of the country, a top official said.
“The cabinet gave the approval for the global promotion campaign”, Chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism Kimarli Fernando told an online forum organized by Advocata Institute, a Colombo-based think tank.
Daily News: Tourism will reopen with strong safeguards
Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Kimali Fernando said that the government was working closely with the army to create safeguards to when possible open up the country for tourism. Fernando was speaking on a panel discussion organized by Advocata on 21 April.
Fernando said that they envisioned having health screening and tracking data collected at the point of passport control at the airport. The tourists would then be provided information detailing institutions that have been certified by the government as passing health safeguards. The system is looking to adopt best practices followed internationally.
Economy Next: SriLankan Airlines in rescue flights for China, UK, and Australia in COVID battle
SriLankan Airlines which halted scheduled flights to Colombo in April has flown rescue flights for China, UK and Australia, and is also carrying cargo amid a Coronavirus crisis earning some revenues while cutting costs, Chief Executive Vipula Gunatilleka said. “We do a lot of special flights not just for Sri Lankans, helping other nationals,” Gunatilleka told an online forum held by Advocata Institute, a Colombo-based think tank.
Economy Next: Sri Lanka eyes post-Coronavirus tourism with tighter visa, health rules
Sri Lanka is making plans to draw tourists after the Coronavirus crisis, with a raft of new operating rules for hotels, transport and visa to cut chances of the virus being transmitted and protect workers and their families, a tourism official said. “The visa process will be changed. When you turn up you will not be able to have a visa,’ Kimarli Fernando, Chairperson, of Sri Lanka Tourism told an online forum organized by Advocata Institute, a Colombo-based think tank.
LBO: Impact of COVID-19 on Sri Lanka’s tourism industry
Kimarli Fernando, Vipula Gunatilleka, Sanath Ukwatte, Mahen Kariyawasam and Murtaza Jafferjee will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Sri Lanka’s Tourism Industry. The discussion covered the current challenges faced by the tourism industry and route to recovery.
Businessnews.lk – Online forum on COVID-19 with Tourism industry leaders by Advocata
Advocata Institute is hosting a panel discussion with tourism industry leaders, Kimarli Fernando (Chairperson, Sri Lanka Tourism), Vipula Gunatilleka (CEO, SriLankan Airlines), Sanath Ukwatte (Chairman, Sri Lanka Hotel Association), Mahen Kariyawasam (President, Sri Lanka Inbound Travel Operators); moderated by Murtaza Jafferjee (Chair, Advocata Institute) on the impact of COVID-19 on Sri Lanka’s Tourism Industry.
