{"id":2977,"date":"2019-07-25T16:35:08","date_gmt":"2019-07-25T14:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.forwardkeys.com\/sri-lanka-struggles-to-recover-from-easter-bombings\/"},"modified":"2024-12-04T12:30:41","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T11:30:41","slug":"sri-lanka-struggles-to-recover-from-easter-bombings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forwardkeys.com\/es\/sri-lanka-struggles-to-recover-from-easter-bombings\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka struggles to recover from Easter bombings"},"content":{"rendered":"
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3 months on, flight bookings have stabilised \u2013 at 26% down<\/h2>\n

A report from ForwardKeys, which analyses over 17 million flight bookings a day, has revealed that three months after the Easter Sunday suicide bombings, on April 21st<\/sup>, Sri Lanka\u2019s tourism industry is still suffering; although a slow recovery appears to be underway.<\/p>\n

Between 1st<\/sup>\u00a0January and 21st<\/sup>\u00a0April, international flight bookings to Sri Lanka were 3% up on the year before. However, in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, there was a spike in cancellations and bookings collapsed. The first week saw a decline of 181%, which means that in addition to no new bookings being made, there was a wave of cancellations of existing bookings.<\/p>\n

The Sri Lankan police responded forcefully and, within six days, over 70 suspects had been arrested. Just over a week later, on 7th<\/sup>\u00a0May, the Prime Minister declared that all the jihadists responsible had been caught or killed.<\/p>\n

From the beginning of May, a timid recovery trend began, but bookings still have a long way to go before they are back to last year\u2019s levels. Over the whole three-month period (April 22nd<\/sup>\u00a0\u2013 July 21st<\/sup>), bookings have been 69% down on the equivalent dates in 2018.<\/p>\n

Less than two months after the suicide bombings, flight bookings to Sri Lanka stabilised. From 9th<\/sup>\u00a0June to 21st<\/sup>\u00a0July, the level plateaued at 26% down on the equivalent period last year.<\/p>\n

\"\"Jameson Wong, APAC Business Development Director, ForwardKeys, said: \u201cOne has to feel deep sympathy for the people of Sri Lanka. They suffered from a coordinated campaign of ghastly suicide bombings on Easter Sunday, a day of the year which will make the horrors harder to forget. The deliberate targeting of tourists, as well as locals, is having a severe impact on a valuable sector of the country\u2019s economy, which (according to the World Travel & Tourism Council) is responsible for 27% of export revenue.<\/p>\n

We are seeing initial signs of recovery, but it is likely to take time before visitors regain their confidence in travelling to this beautiful country. The irony is that this is a really good time to visit Sri Lanka, as there will be pressure on prices. Also, it will be a fantastic experience to support a recovering nation and feel the warmth of Sri Lankan hospitality.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jameson Wong
\n<\/strong>APAC Business Development Director<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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