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April 9, 2024Author: James Chappell
Sri Lanka’s travel advice has softened (Image: iStock)
The FCDO has previously warned that tourists could face shortages of food, fuel, medicines and medical services, as well as power outages, and that their travels in Sri Lanka’s cities and islands could be affected by political unrest – advice dating back to the country’s 2022 economic recession.
It also continued to issue prominent warnings about the threat of terrorism in the country following the 2019 Easter bombings at churches and hotels.
Earlier this year, Sri Lanka Professional Experience Travel Group wrote to the government arguing that the country was in a much stronger economic and political position and that the FCDO’s advice was outdated and could harm the country’s recovery from the pandemic. Its third largest source market.
ETG’s open letter was signed by more than 30 parliamentarians, business leaders and celebrities, and also received support from industry affiliate Aito.
ETG commissioned research with Aito to highlight the power of FCDO advice; A poll of almost 4,000 UK consumers found that nearly three quarters (74%) would be less likely to take a free holiday if it involved a destination deemed unsafe by the FCDO of consumers would turn down a free holiday, while a similar number regularly look at the FCDO’s recommendations for Asian destinations and compare them with other destinations. Less than half of flights are available to European destinations.
The letter and the study were later raised in the House of Lords by Lord Naseby, deputy chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sri Lanka, who called on Foreign Secretary David Cameron to intervene to get the FCDO to soften its stance on Sri Lanka.
The FCDO revised its travel advice for Sri Lanka on Friday (April 5). ETG chief executive Sam Clark and the Sri Lankan government welcomed the change, but Clark said he believed the changes to the advice did not go far enough, specifically raising the wording of the question around Potential riots.
The advice previously read: “Protests, demonstrations, roadblocks and violent disorder may occur at short notice anywhere across the island, and security authorities may use tear gas and water cannon against protesters. Authorities may impose restrictions, including curfews, but Little or nothing.” Note. “
Updated since: “Protests and demonstrations can occur anywhere on the island at short notice and can turn violent. Security authorities may use water cannon and tear gas to control protesters. Large-scale protests in 2022 lead to Violence and loss “Moving around the island is very difficult due to restrictions such as curfews and roadblocks. “
“We continue to believe that this change does not go far enough, particularly in terms of the language of protests which ‘could happen anywhere across the island at short notice’,” Clark said. “If the actual situation does not match the recommendations, it will weaken the People have confidence in the system.”
“While this is a major win for Sri Lankan tourism, we hope that the FCDO will continue to review their travel guidelines for Sri Lanka.
Aito executive director Martinyn Sumners said he wanted to congratulate ETG on “an outstanding campaign”. “The advice has had a huge impact on individual travelers, the Sri Lankan tourism industry and the economy, and we hope UK travelers will now be able to make more informed decisions about where to travel around the world.”
Lord Naseby, who raised the issue in the House of Lords, said he was pleased the FCDO had acted quickly following his intervention. “I hope this welcome change will mean more British tourists will have the opportunity to visit this beautiful country that I cherish.”
Sri Lanka received 130,000 British tourists last year (Image: Mariana Proenca/Unsplash)
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office said it hoped the update would “ensure visitors have a clear understanding of Sri Lanka’s current progress”
According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Board, approximately 130,000 British tourists visited Sri Lanka last year, making it the country’s third largest source market. The Office of the President confirmed that nearly 54,000 British tourists had visited Sri Lanka in the three months to March 27, raising hopes that 2024 will be an even stronger year.
“This updated advisory is expected to further boost tourism in Sri Lanka,” the office added. Tourism Minister Harin Fernando told Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror the new recommendations could have a “multiplier effect” , leaving other source markets to look to the UK for guidance on whether to update travel advice.
“With many countries being guided by UK travel advisories, this update will have a positive multiplier effect across all our power generation markets,” he added.
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