Few tourists on the beach of Sri Lanka after Easter bombings. (via Daily Times)

Sri Lanka Gives Special Offers to Woo Tourists After the Attacks

The deadly Easter bombings carried out by extremist bombers on April 21 has significantly lowered tourist rates coming to the country, but Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is fighting to woo visitors back to enjoy the beauty of beaches that widely known as ‘the pearl’ of Indian Ocean.

The bombings battered churches and luxury hotels that killed 250 people, including 40 foreigners. In response to the incident, countries like the United States, India, and England issued travel advisories for Sri Lanka after the attacks. As a result, those advisories had motivated travelers to cancel and drop their flights and hotel bookings in Sri Lanka.

To lure tourists back, Sri Lanka launched its marketing strategy by hosting international sporting events and offering ‘special promotions’ by slashing hotel rates up to 50% off in key markets like Russia. Lavanga Resort & Spa is just one example of a beach resort in Hikkaduwa that has been taking a leap. It is now offering rooms for only $35 per night with free breakfast, which is much cheaper than the usual price of $75 and the offers have come to success in Russia, as the managing director of Lavanga said that their rooms are getting booked for the winter season.

But for smaller hotels, according to the president of the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, Sanath Ukwatta, they cannot rebound fast enough as many of them may have reduced or laid off staff.

Tourists are lapping up for this dream cheap vacation that makes reservations remain tepid for the next few months, although the occupancy only covered around 10% versus 30% last year.  Not only the hotels, the State-owned Sri Lankan Airlines is also offering cheap fares and pushing the joint promotions with the government’s tourism board.

According to Sri Lanka’s Tourism Bureau, the promotions had attracted 1,400 to 1,500 foreign visitors to stay in the country on a daily average, which is up from 1,000 recorded immediately after the attacks. The numbers are still down compared to 4,500 in last year, but officials are optimistic that this situation will improve as China and India just lift their travel advisories.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sri-lanka-tourism/rooms-50-off-and-ads-in-russia-sri-lanka-woos-tourists-after-attacks-idUSKCN1TB0KZ