Hoteliers warn they won't tolerate another wave of protests which affect tourism

28 October 2022 12:36 pm - 45 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Sri Lanka’s hotel sector yesterday asserted it will not tolerate any protests that will eventually result in severe negative implications to the industry, specially at a time when some improvement is seen in international travellers visiting the country.

The Hotel Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) said it is high-time the political fraternity stop with their “drama” and start looking into the best interest of the country and its people.

Several political parties, trade unions, civil organisations, and student movements announced this week that a mass anti-government rally will be held on November 2.

“If the protests are peaceful then it is fine. But if they are going to be unruly, and cause inconveniences to the daily activities of people and businesses, we won’t tolerate it. The authorities must step up to prevent any escalation of events,” THASL President M. Shanthikumar told Mirror Business.

“Whenever the industry is lifting its head up and coming out of a crisis situation, we are somehow thrown right back. These parties should understand the implication it will have on the tourism sector,” he added, reflecting the sentiments of THASL membership.

Following the mass protests that were held a few months ago, which forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign in exile, source markets of Sri Lanka tourism were quick to impose travel advisories against the country.

The move resulted in the island nation witnessing the lowest tourist arrivals for several months while its peers and competitors were recording multifold increases in tourist arrivals.

Even with the relaxation of the travel advisories, Sri Lanka has still not made it to the green category, which is the ‘exercise normal precaution’ category. It is currently in the ‘exercise increased caution’ category or the yellow list.

In the last few months, private sector stakeholders, the Tourism Ministry, and Sri Lanka Tourism kicked off several initiatives and stepped up efforts to convince source markets that the island nation is safe for travel once again.
With the talk of protests emerging once again, the stakeholders fear industry woes will worsen.

“We worked very hard to attract tourists for the upcoming winter season. We have many hopes for the coming week. The industry absolutely cannot afford any more negativity. The outcome will be disastrous,” Shanthikumar reiterated.

The THASL chief shared that the hotel sector has invested about US$ 15 billion so far, and another US$ 4 billion worth projects are on the verge of completion.

“Any negative events will result in pushing away tourists from visiting Sri Lanka. So with lesser and lesser tourist arrivals, which will make it impossible to maintain occupancy, investors will pull their shutters down,” cautioned Shanthikumar. (Shabiya Ali Ahlam)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 45

Sandy Friday, 28 October 2022 01:07 PM

Politicians can't save the country but they can sink it.

Shenal Mark Fernando Friday, 28 October 2022 01:14 PM

Sri Lankan Hoteliers are always short sighted, they only care about themself. Always asking Gov help on loans and what not. Industries should be there for greater good esp when you are depending on public funds to run your business with tax cuts , loan moratoriums and etc.

Mm Friday, 28 October 2022 01:17 PM

Agree 100% hope the so called lawyers who protect and side with the protesters also open their eyes!

Kikazaru Friday, 28 October 2022 01:17 PM

Ask the hoteliers to pay for the hunger and starved.

Sambo Sunday, 30 October 2022 01:06 PM

The hotels deny locals to their hotels when they are good in business by hiking the prices. So should we shed tears for them now.

anura hettiarachchi Friday, 28 October 2022 01:18 PM

In the same tone, can you tell those in the government stop looting. Also look at what was the last best paid average salary of a hospitality worker. You will then know why people are desperate. Whether political or otherwise, someone has to lead this struggle. I am hotelier and proudly served in a hotel in Sri Lanka 20 yrs. back.

Mizaru Friday, 28 October 2022 01:19 PM

A clown. Who wants to visit a bankrupt country!

Easwaran Friday, 28 October 2022 01:24 PM

So what are your plans to stop the protests? Interesting!

Dion Friday, 28 October 2022 01:33 PM

Shanthikumar should address this to the ruling politicians. We are are for peaceful protests. And the aragalaya was very peaceful until the Rajapakshe thugs started violence. So Mr. Shanthikumar should not be a ' chicken' but address the ruling party thugs.

KD Friday, 28 October 2022 01:38 PM

Seriously. what the f are these political parties and protestors thinking? utterly selfish

Kosappu Friday, 28 October 2022 01:44 PM

Oh he is worried about money not human rights

ala Friday, 28 October 2022 01:45 PM

then there should be no PTA . you force the government to repeal this law and free all protestors

Dee Friday, 28 October 2022 01:51 PM

We the Aragaley people don't care about you guys or the people or the economy. We want an election. We want a new president. Because more the delay, the more the economic Armageddon's going to loose chance. We will struggle with a new aragaley, for what we also don't have a clue neither do we have a solution! Long live the Aragaley! Hip Hop hooray!

AZOOR Junaideen Friday, 28 October 2022 01:52 PM

Please inform the ( unelected) President to restore normalcy on peoples lives, draconian laws cost of living etc

karu Friday, 28 October 2022 01:52 PM

Some People in the country do these useless protest to make opportunities to our close neighbor ( or execute the agenda ) 1st Easter attack .. system change ... ect. Meanwhile neighbor sucks our blod. Time to check these protest organizers accounts and wealth

Johan Friday, 28 October 2022 01:55 PM

The Politicians who brought the country to this situation must put the country back on track.People will be on the streets if they find It difficult to get atleast two meals a day and if they can't buy essentials on exorbitant prices .They have no knowledge whether tourists must come or not.

Sunil Friday, 28 October 2022 01:57 PM

When the government is heinously suppressing the fundamental rights of the people to voice their opinions in the face of acute economic hardships that they are facing, especially with regard to acute shortages of food, fuel, medicine, fertilizer etc, caused due to gross mismanagement of the economy by these morons, the people have no alternative but to protest vehemently. These protests cannot be stopped until effective solutions are found to these long standing problems.

Sokrates Friday, 28 October 2022 01:58 PM

You selfish bastards and bootlickers from Ranil and his Puppet Masters. You only think about today. In the longer term, it is far more important, and not just for the tourism sector, to have a stable good democratic government than a corrupt and criminal gang like the current one consisting of thieves, looters, scammers and murderers trampling on human rights by ordering their politicized and corrupt police force beating peaceful demonstrators. Only these brave activists can send this dictatorial regime to hell.

anil Friday, 28 October 2022 01:59 PM

Good Move Better take an injunction against Hirunika She keeps opening her foul mouth all the time to make herself politically relevant

Ram Friday, 28 October 2022 02:06 PM

Will not tolerate. Good What are you going to do. Watch them from the Hotel balconies? or send your staff out with poles to chase them. Your association is talking rot

Prashanth Friday, 28 October 2022 02:07 PM

Profits before aspirations of the people. Nothing new here. Hoteliers never cared about local people anyways. Protest is the only way to secure our kids future. You want the people to put your profits before their kids future? Nice joke.

DHA Friday, 28 October 2022 02:30 PM

Agree....

Cheers Friday, 28 October 2022 02:31 PM

Very good move get together and whack the protesters these trade unions, JVP, SJB, tamils and Muslims along with ngo's and foreign elements want sri lanka to fail. Next time enough is enough serve them nicely so they will never do this Koran uda aragala

Mahesh Friday, 28 October 2022 02:36 PM

So high electricity bills, water bills, corruption and rajapaksa backed regimes are ok for you.must be some basil bayyas group. We need stable solutions not short cuts

Karalasingam Sivalingam Friday, 28 October 2022 02:45 PM

Tourism was the cause of many ills of this country, specially shortages of sea food for localls, inflation of food items, it is time to discourage Tourism in this country, in order to SriLankans to live an affordable, healthy life.

Chris Friday, 28 October 2022 03:01 PM

It was always peaceful until some government thugs decided to turn it ugly. Also the hoteliers are not going to tolerate? Are they going to open fire?

Tak Tik Tuk Friday, 28 October 2022 03:07 PM

There is a point here, Hotels provide employment to many citizens and also tourists come and spend on shopping, tipping, travelling which is also an income to non-hotel staff as well. It is crucial foreign currency for our battered economy.

Aviator Friday, 28 October 2022 03:12 PM

Stop the protests if you can. July 9th will repeat to chase these goons away. Close down your stupid hotels if you want to. We need to improve this country first and rid it of corruption before we can even think of tourism.

Kandyboy Friday, 28 October 2022 03:27 PM

SELFISH> SELFISH >SELFISH

kandyboy Friday, 28 October 2022 03:34 PM

Karalasingam Sivalingam Friday, 28 October 2022 02:45 PM Tourism was the cause of many ills of this country, specially shortages of sea food for localls, inflation of food items, it is time to discourage Tourism in this country, in order to SriLankans to live an affordable, healthy life. ME: 1000 % RIGHT. WE ARE HUNGRY

Randika Friday, 28 October 2022 03:34 PM

I was a student in Mount Lavinia hotel school. I used to pay them school fee's and in return the principal would send us for work in the hotel under the pretext of hands on learning instead on any school learning. Mount Lavinia hotel would take on more functions than it had the staff to work the functions and all the students from the school used to be called upon and the then principal would say hotel is doing you a big favour by letting you learn and since the hotel is short on staff it was our responsibility to work there, even though we were students and not employees. We had to go work there, even though we payed a fees to the school to study hotel management. But basically we were paying Mount Lavinia hotel school a fees so that they would exploit us by making up cover their short staff and work in their hotels.All these hotels look for a profit.Upper management get a hefty pay but they will get the work done out of the lower staff and not care two hoods about the wellbeing.

joshua Friday, 28 October 2022 03:50 PM

Country First sir. If the politicians are taking the country and people towards anarchy, you want the people to sit at home simply to save the tourist hotels. There will be another wave and if you cannot take it, close your hotel.

Preshi Rem Friday, 28 October 2022 03:57 PM

Do the hoteliers not have the backbone to ask the government to reduce the cabinet? Ask them why they need 38 new ministers? Can they tell the government to release those held under PTA. You cannot hold down people and run a country. MR SHANTHIKUMAR why don’t you ask the government to bring in the laws to stop corruption? Stop repression? Call for an election. Ask them to Cain the election and come to power. Then the protest will stop.

Terrence Friday, 28 October 2022 04:22 PM

Let there be some sense by all concerned as the public during the previous GR reign wanted certain things like fuel, gas, fertilizer etc. we can't expect miracles to happen overnight as the public purse was squandered. But now there are some things which are being ironed out like seeking IMF assistance. With the present scenario we cannot afford to continue with protests as many avenues will suffer as always outside help will be forthcoming only when there is stability in the country. If these protests take place the whole 22 mn will suffer. Although I am not in agreement with the present governance in certain matters are concerned bringing new faces will not attract outside help which is the predominant factor. So bear and grin and when the time comes all can exercise their franchise

Dam Friday, 28 October 2022 06:15 PM

Tell this to the government too. All peaceful protests were disrupted by bloody government. No protester disrupted any tourist. We all want tourists to visit SL. Just because you say we as people of SL can't suffer anymore.

Aquarius Friday, 28 October 2022 06:54 PM

This Shanthikumar, what about the inconvenience of millions of your fellow citizens? People are struggling to meet their daily needs and he should instead address those in power to do the right thing for the people and the country. He is only interested in his business. Hotel and tourism industry is just one of the industries in the overall machinery of this country. When it is a healthy

Gamini Friday, 28 October 2022 07:12 PM

You can tell this to the Electric Board also! Who wants to visit a country with daily power cuts?

Tissa Fernando Friday, 28 October 2022 07:27 PM

We could have progressed a lot since Jan 2022 if not for these selfish paid protestors who were derailing the country.

Upulpb Friday, 28 October 2022 08:33 PM

It is very clear that unless the government does not look into the hardships people are going through next wave of protests are unstoppable

Ns Friday, 28 October 2022 09:19 PM

So they tolerate Rajapakshahoru. Why people protest, this selfish idiot doesn't understand. Bloody rascal.

Sabine Schroeder Saturday, 29 October 2022 12:45 PM

Horrific attitude. It is that kind of mind set, and NOT the peaceful and understandable protests that would stop me from coming to SL. I spent a month in SL in Sept. 22, and the misery and poverty of the average people are almost incomprehensible. Let Mr. Shantikumar eat cake!!

rew Saturday, 29 October 2022 06:23 PM

Censored -= Hoteliers behaving like Ranilpakse's Police.

S T Saturday, 29 October 2022 09:26 PM

Typical selfish ignorant blinkered Sri Lankan asshole F*** your rip-off profits What about the ordinary people’s suffering??? I know they won’t post this because there’s no freedom of speech in this Godforsaken country

MR Monday, 31 October 2022 07:34 AM

See the wisdom of our great hoteliers, thinking that protests had ruined the economy!! Understand how much greedy these people are, just want to see their comfort only. Also can't understand what triggered protests. If all of our people can afford your luxury, people won't come to streets. Also please do business in ethical way, so that guests will come, not that protests hold them coming.

Srilal Ahangama Monday, 31 October 2022 04:38 PM

Many Hotel industry bodies were seen marching to GGG Galle Face during protests there between April and July his year speaking about various shortages and power cuts etc which affected their industry.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Hoteliers warn they won't tolerate another wave of protests which affect tourism

Comments - 45

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

New Visa procedure implemented

Train fails to halt, crashes onto Colombo Fort platform

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

MIRROR CRICKET

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

TODAY'S HEADLINES

SL took minimal steps to punish officials who committed human rights abuses: US report

Iranian President’s visit Sri Lanka withstands western pressure

25 tons of solid waste disposed along Sri Pada route

Temperature rises to ‘Caution’ level

Sri Lanka secures third spot in South Asian Kurash Championship 2024

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Army forms committee to probe Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross accident

Indian cricket manager indicted for Legend Cricket League match-fixing allegations