Hasty opening up could be risky for future of tourism industry
Basil Rajapaksa should be lauded for heading a task force to plan a successful relaunch of tourism to Sri Lanka, as reported by Damith Wickremasekera in the Sunday Times. At present, travellers globally are obviously impatient to get to a safe holiday destination and Sri Lanka as a sunny holiday island heads most popularity rankings in reputed travel publications. These two factors combined tell us that demand will definitely outstrip supply as soon as the world sees the back of the pandemic. Sri Lanka Tourism will be in a dream situation.
This scenario will hopefully unfold in the future, however, opening up for tourism with the virus rampant in the West and even in Sri Lanka at present, is a different challenge. The Government should ensure that the virus does not act as the instrument of death to the critical tourist revival effort of all concerned. Remember even the President of the USA paid a huge price for mismanaging the COVID campaign.
The biggest challenge facing Mr. Rajapaksa as the head of the task force will be coordinating state and private sector bodies to work towards a common goal. Starting with the health authorities, Department of Civil Aviation,
Airports Authority and Immigration, Sri Lankan Airlines and other foreign airlines that operate to Sri Lanka, hoteliers, transport and tour operators, Police and Defence forces, local area PHI’s etc. all will have to play their part to perfection to ensure that tourists and Sri Lanka will be the ultimate winner and not the virus. In order to succeed, meticulous planning, coordination, communication and an unfailing dedication to the common cause will be required. COVID control measures like working in a bubble, PCR testing, quarantine, sterile transportation and most importantly, fast tracked clearance at airports without congregation, need to be planned to perfection.
Any weak link in the chain through incompetence or simply not following the procedure could be counterproductive. This would spell disaster for Sri Lanka Tourism in the long term and we will lose our enviable position as a most preferred destination.
Whilst the writer fully understands the negative economic challenges to all stakeholders due to the prolonged shutdown, the repercussions of haste in opening up, could possibly put at risk the long-term future health of the tourism industry. Therefore, careful thought by all stakeholders is suggested.
Also keep in mind we cannot open the country to tourists and forget about thousands of Sri Lankans craving to come home. Good luck to the Tourism Task Force and the country that surely is paradise.