Shocking 40 percent of tourist pre-bookings cancelled

By Lalith Chaminda and S.K. Kaluarachchi

Tourist coach operators claim that they have had to drastically increase their fares due to the prevailing fuel shortage.This has adversely affected tourism because those who visit Sri Lanka informed others of the situation here.Tourist coach operators said that they had to charge between Rs. 30,000 and 35,000 to transport a tourist from the Katunayake Airport to Galle. Because of this most tourists take the bus or the train to Colombo

Tourist coach operators say that despite the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, some foreigners visit the country. However, once they are here, they have to face many difficulties because of fuels shortages. Tourist coach operator, Namalsiri Kottawa, said that tourists could not even find their way from the hotel to the nearest town.

“The Minister of Energy says that fuel is available to tourist coaches. However, it is not so. Either you spend a week at an IOC gas station to get 15 to 20 litres of fuel or you buy from the black market. Both are not viable options,” he said.

Earlier this month, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said the number of tourist arrivals had decreased by 60 percent in June.

Director General of SLTDA Dhammika Wijesinghe said this situation had arisen due to the economic crisis. According to SLTDA data, 106,500 tourists arrived in March 2022, but arrivals decreased to 32,856 in June. Wijesinghe said July and August were the high season for tourism in Sri Lanka.

“During those two months, tourists mainly visit the East. They also tend to visit Kandy in August for the perahera. However, given the fuel shortages travelling in Sri Lanka is a difficult task. About 40 percent of the pre-bookings have been canceled by foreign tourists,” he said.