The Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka where over 200 people were killed and nearly 500 injured has left its aftershocks here in London after the UK Foreign Office has officially warned passengers to cancel their travel plans to the tropical paradise unless they are absolutely “essential”. While Colombo is gripped with fear and remains curfew bound as intelligentsia hunts for suicide bombers, travel agents and tour operators across the UK are in caught in a limbo with last minute cancellations and postponement requests.
“In the last seven days we have lost a total of 28 group bookings that included roughly 70 passengers who cancelled their trips,” said a spokesperson for Holiday & More to Asian Voice.
According to data provided by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the country saw a 400% jump in the number of people arriving the country from 2014 to 2.3 million last year. Today, more than 254,000 people travel from the UK to Sri Lanka on an annual basis.
“We have to understand that travel is a very sensitive industry and any incident of such nature as the bomb attacks in Sri Lanka tends to have a ripple effect on us. Currently, we have lost business worth £48,000 and witnessed a 70% drop in calls in a week's time,” the spokesperson continued.
But Holiday & More is not the only travel company who has suffered from the aftermath of the on-going security concerns sparked amidst IS claiming responsibility of the recent spate of attacks on churches and mosques. Reports suggest that Virgin Holidays have temporarily suspended all operations to Sri Lanka till May 15 whereas, Kuoni has put a hold on all trips to the country for the next four weeks. However, Virgin Holidays have also said that it's sourcing alternative flight arrangements to help holidaymakers return home as quickly as possible, and has a 24/7 hotline on +44 203 6688 749 which is providing advice and reassurance.
“Our hope is that it will be possible to change this when the current security operation has concluded. My first priority will always be the security of British citizens living and travelling abroad.
“We all hope the situation will return to normal very soon, and that the Sri Lankan tourism industry is able to get back on its feet following the terrorist attacks. We will do all we can to help the Sri Lankan authorities in the meantime,” said Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
According to the Association of British Insurers, “Cancellation cover under your travel insurance should cover additional costs that cannot be refunded by your travel provider. If you are currently in Sri Lanka and want to curtail your visit and return early, your travel insurance should cover any extra costs associated with rearranging return flights.”
Customers due to travel to Sri Lanka should check with the Foreign Office for updates. “While the Foreign Office hasn’t put any travel restrictions to Sri Lanka, this means that normal booking conditions would apply if customers no longer wish to travel, travel companies’ policies will vary, depending on specific circumstances,” according to Association of British Travel Agents.
While some travel agents have disclosed how they are offering alternative travel dates, flights and cancellation refunds on a case by case basis travellers should also contact their travel company to discuss their cancellation policies, and the options available.
In the meantime, Jean Marc Flamert, former director of tourism for the Sri Lankan tourist board in the UK, appealed to operators and agents in a Youtube video to continue its support for the country following the terror attacks on Easter Sunday.
“The people of Sri Lanka are resilient and welcoming and you know as well as I do they will look after all of your guests.
“Please, any new bookings, take them for the weeks and months ahead. Any present bookings, try to hold on before you cancel them,” said Flamert.
