The Rapid Response Team by Safertourism based in USA is standing by if Sri Lanka tourism officials are ready to respond, says Dr. Peter Tarlow, president of Safertourism.com.
Sri Lanka tourism is currently going through a major crisis as a result of the devastation of the Easter 2019 terrorist attacks.
Occupancies are at rock bottom levels and staff is being laid off and some hotels are partially closed down.
However in this environment of ‘doom and gloom’, a proper crisis management plan has to be implemented to tide over the rough times being experienced. In addition, there are also opportunities to be availed off.
Hotels should seize this opportunity to retool, upgrade service standards, streamline operations for greater productivity and be prepared to re launch themselves as leaner efficient and customer focused organizations once the turnaround arrives.
The local tourism industry has very been resilient withstanding and weathering a 25+ yearlong internal civil strife, 9/11, SARS, Bird flu and Tsunamis.
Many hotels are battling with serious cash flow issues, although the government relief package announced, may bring in some respite. All this creates an environment of doom and gloom, with motivation levels hitting rock bottom.
In responding to this crisis firstly one has to come to terms with the calamity and respond to the immediate need and then only manage the crisis response properly.
Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka increased by 66 percent in the month of June 2019 from the previous month, the latest data from the Tourism Ministry showed.
The total number of international tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka during June was 63,072, up from 37,802 reported in May just after the Easter Sunday Attacks.
However, tourist arrivals have declined during June 2019 against the same period last year. In comparison to June last year, there was a drop of 57 percent when the arrivals were 146,828.
This month, the largest source market for tourists was India, followed by Australia, the United Kingdom, and China. Almost 97 percent of the tourists traveled by air to Sri Lanka.
As of 30 June 2019, 1,008,449 tourists have visited Sri Lanka for this year. It is a decline of 13.4 percent over the last year when 1,164,647 tourists visited the country during the same period.
(LI)