resort

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday January 5, 2005

Tourism and Tsunamis

More than 100 foreigners were killed in Sri Lanka in Sunday’s sea surges across the coastline, throwing the booming tourism industry into disarray. 

But the government has voiced optimism that overseas travellers would be returning after a few months. 

“We have been assured by almost all the big tourist operators globally that they would start bookings for Sri Lanka by the end of January again,” said Udaya Nanayakkara, chairman of Ceylon Tourism Board. 

Tour operators such as Thomas Cook and Cox and Kings have assured the government the tourists would be back to the country’s palm-fringed beaches, he said. 

“To begin with they may start by bringing half of what they usually do in an ideal situation,” Nanayakkara told AFP. “Once confidence builds up they would go back to their normal bookings.” (Source: ABC)