Coronavirus outbreak delays tourism recovery
■ „January arrivals down 7% to 226,094 ■ „Chinese arrivals decline 15.3% to 22,363 ■ „Tourism authorities expect up to 15,000 decline in Chinese tourists in Feb. ■ „Dec. 2019 arrivals declined only 4.5% signalling recovery
Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals declined by 7.4 percent year-onyear (YOY) to 226,094 in January with arrivals from China dropping 15.3 percent YOY amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus, delaying the full recovery of the country’s tourism sector in the aftermath of Easter Sunday attacks.
Sri Lanka recorded 22,363 arrivals from China in January compared to 26,414 arrivals in January 2019.
In December 2019, the decline of tourist arrivals decelerated 4.5 percent YOY from 70.8 percent YOY decline in May, in the immediate aftermath of Easter attacks, indicating a quick industry recovery.
“February will be worse, because all tour groups from China have been cancelled,” Sri Lanka Tourism chief Kimarli Fernando told reporters in Colombo, yesterday.
January-march is considered to be the peak season of Chinese tourist arrivals where millions of Chinese travel across the world during the Lunar New Year holidays.
Local tourism authorities are expecting around 14,000-15,000 drop in Chinese tourist arrivals in February. Sri Lanka attracted 23,759 Chinese tourists in February, last year.
The Chinese government has ordered travel and tourism companies to stop selling tour packages from January 24 to contain the outbreak while advising its citizen to restrict outbound travel.
Further, Sri Lanka has also suspended issuing of on arrival visas for Chinese nationals at BIA from January 28.
However, the tourism industry fears a potential slowdown in global travel due to novel coronavirus concerns.
“I would say we had a good month in January as many Chinese tourists arrived in Sri Lanka right before Chinese New Year. We had three Chinese tour groups cancelled for this month; the cancellations will be felt this month onwards. But we are still getting free independent travellers (FIT) from China.
Moving forward, people becoming afraid to travel might become an issue. That’s the main concern for us more than the slowdown of the Chinese tourist arrivals,” Jetwing Hotels and Jetwing Travels Chairperson Shiromal Cooray told Mirror Business.
She noted that many Sri Lankans have cancelled their travel plans abroad with coronavirus spreading to more than 25 countries and similarly foreign travellers might also limit their travel plans.
Meanwhile, Health Promotion Bureau Consultant Community Physician Dr. Priyanga Ranasinghe urged the public not to panic and get carried away with misleading information spreading on social media.
Chinese ambassador Cheng Xueyuan issuing statement yesterday said it was worrisome that some taxis, hotels and restaurants were refusing to entertain Chinese citizens in Sri Lanka.
“There’s only one case confirmed in Sri Lanka so far. The number of dengue cases is much more. Being a tourist is nothing to be stigmatised, but you have to be on alert and listen to the advices given by experts,” Dr. Ranasinghe said.
She noted that Health Promotion Bureau is currently monitoring the myths and rumours circulating on social media and measure are being taken to post correct information.
Fernando stressed that with more credible information being made available on the virus, the public would come into realisation the real gravity of the virus.
“It’s a learning process. Everyone was shocked with little information on the outbreak, but now we are getting educated,” she added.
According to Health Ministry Consultant Epidemiologist Dr. Thilanga Ruwanpathirana, Sri Lanka had 20 suspected individuals under surveillance at five hospitals.
“We had one confirmed case as everyone knows. There are 20 suspected individuals under surveillance - that is five at IDH, two at National Hospital in Colombo, two at Karapitiya, three at Teaching Hospital in Kurunegala and eight at National Hospital in Kandy. All are healthy at the moment, however, we are keeping them for observations,” he revealed.
He noted that the Health Ministry, with involvement of other state entities, has taken several measures to halt coronavirus entering into the country.
The arriving passengers are required to fill health declaration forms including travel itineraries, which would be utilised to monitor them during 14 days incubation period of the virus.
Further, all Chinese tourists, guides and drivers have been advised to wear face masks and to use hand sanitisers during tours.
“We shouldn’t discourage Chinese travellers visiting Sri Lanka. The best option is to take them around the country with all the precautions. This particular virus wouldn’t spread from swimming pools, bed linen, etc. It can only be spread by droplets,” Dr. Ruwanpathirana said.