More travel firms have pledged their support for Sri Lanka tourism following Sunday’s bomb attacks.
Members of Aito, The Specialist Travel Association, including Bamboo Travel, Experience Travel Group, Fleewinter and Travel Gallery, plus other Sri Lanka travel specialists, Holiday Architects and Selective Asia, are working to rally support for Sri Lankan tourism and the people of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s tourist board declared the country “open for business” this week following the attacks that killed at least 359 people.
Eight Britons were among the victims confirmed dead in the Easter Sunday blasts at churches and hotels which left a further 500 wounded.
UK operators with tours in the country reported no direct casualties as a result of the blasts, and urged the industry to get behind Sri Lanka and support continued tourism to the country.
Sam Clark, co-founder of Experience Travel Group, said: “As a collective, we are very fortunate that none of our clients in Sri Lanka were directly affected by last Sunday’s atrocities. Naturally, our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to all those injured and to the families and friends of the victims.
“Our primary aim is to provide safe and comfortable travel arrangements for all clients currently in Sri Lanka and for those with plans to visit the island in the future. I am glad to say that several groups have travelled to Sri Lanka since the incidents of last Sunday; we are in touch with them – both via our guides and directly – and understand that they feel safe and are happy to be on the island.”
The specialist companies concerned are currently planning how best to assist Sri Lankan tourism to recover from Easter Sunday’s atrocities in practical terms and plan to make an announcement about their ideas in the near future.