Post-COVID19 Challenges and Way Forward for Sri Lanka Tourism

Abstract

The present study attempts to evaluate the impact of COVID19 on Sri Lanka tourism industry and to make recommendations on the tourism recovery process. The study considers three vital sectors to evaluate the impact on Sri Lanka tourism: impact on the source markets, impact on the local tourism resources, and impact of travel bans, suspension of flights and curfew regulations. The study also envisages on the potential tourist generating countries to Sri Lanka, future travel behavior of the potential tourists, future tourism products demanded, and future operational challenges for the tourism and hospitality establishments. The study finally forwards short-term strategies to protect and promote Sri Lankan tourism industry with multi-stakeholder participation.

Keywords: post-CODID19 travel; impact of COVID19 on Sri Lanka Tourism; travel bans and restrictions; strategies to promote Sri Lanka tourism; tourism stakeholders; tourism and economy

JEL Classification: Z13, Z32