Colombo: Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is recovering faster than expected after the Easter Sunday suicide bombings shook the island nation, giving a much-needed boost to the economy, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera told AFP.
The country was hit by mass cancellations after Islamic State-backed jihadists attacked three churches and three hotels on April 21, leaving 258 dead, including dozens of foreigners.
Yet even in the bombing’s aftermath, domestic tourists filled hotels, and visitors from key European markets are already starting to return, Samaraweera said in an interview on Wednesday.
Samaraweera had initially predicted that Sri Lanka could lose 30 percent of its tourism revenues — about $1.5 billion this year — but now believes the loss will be less than one billion.
“We are beginning to feel that the situation was not as dire as we expected,” Samaraweera said.
“Bookings are coming back.” Hotels were able to keep staff by offering “excellent packages” to Sri Lankan tourists, he added. (PTI)
