The UK government has recently updated its travel advice for Sri Lanka, though campaigners argue more revisions are needed.
- An open letter criticised the existing guidance as outdated and harsh, prompting changes that include modifications to references about roadblocks.
- Chief Executive Sam Clark highlighted improvements yet noted the advice still does not entirely reflect current conditions in Sri Lanka.
- Past warnings about spontaneous unrest across the island have been preserved, causing ongoing dissatisfaction among critics.
- Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, having welcomed significant tourist numbers, hopes for continued updates to improve the advisory.
In recent discussions, campaigners have urged the UK government to make additional updates to its travel advice for Sri Lanka, arguing that recent changes, though a positive step, are insufficient. The original guidance, criticised for being “overly harsh” and “outdated,” prompted the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to amend references, notably those concerning roadblocks.
Sam Clark, the chief executive of a Sri Lanka-specialist travel group, acknowledged the modifications as a “major win”. However, Clark emphasised that the advice still fails to accurately represent the current realities on the ground. Past advisories suggested that violent unrest could occur anywhere on the island unexpectedly, which many, including Clark, deemed “particularly excessive and unfair”.
The amended advice continues to warn of possible protests and demonstrations that can potentially escalate to violence. It advises travellers to avoid large gatherings and notes that measures such as curfews might be imposed with minimal notice. This perpetuates the image of unpredictability, undermining trust in travel advisories, according to campaigners.
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry may see potential benefits from the revised guidance, particularly as earlier references to shortages—affecting food, fuel, and medicine—were removed. With over 600,000 tourists arriving in the initial months of 2024 and the UK being a significant source of tourists, there is hope that ongoing revisions will bolster traveller confidence.
The UK travel advisory plays a crucial role in shaping tourists’ perceptions, as reiterated by the FCDO, which maintains that the safety of British nationals is paramount. They ensure that travel advice aligns with the latest risk assessments to enable informed travel decisions.
Continued evaluation and updates of travel advice could significantly impact Sri Lanka’s tourism recovery efforts.
