Though the financial turmoil in Sri Lanka is a matter of concern for India with the economic refugees looking ways to reach India, especially Tamil Nadu, the crisis seems to be a blessing in disguise for God’s Own Country as Colombo has been giving Kerala tourism some heartburning for the past one decade. As the pretty coastlines, picturesque beaches, tropical climate similar to Kerala have been drawing international tourists to Colombo in hordes, Kerala has been steadily losing its international leisure travellers to Colombo over the years.
For instance, the international tourist arrival in Sri Lanka was mere 6.54 lakh in 2010, just a year after the civil war came to an end in the island natiion. But since 2010, it has been steadily growing and it reached an all-time high of 23.33 lakh in 2018. However, 2019 saw only 19.13 lakh foreign travellers following the Easter day bombing in Colombo. On the other hand, Kerala Tourism which received 6.59 lakh foreign guests in 2010 recorded only 11.89 lakh in 2019. As the growth of foreign tourists in Lanka was astronomical during this period, Kerala Tourism which registered a record growth rate of 18.31 in 2010 compared to the previous year had never reached the figure since then.
Speaking to The Hindu, Jaison Panikulangara, director of SAJ House Boat Builders and Operators, who invested in the houseboat tourism industry in Colombo ,said “I have invested around ₹1.5 crore in the hospitality sector of Sri Lanka and now I am looking ways to sell my properties as there is no major income in the sector for the past three years. A five-star hotel room can be booked now for $50-60, whereas it was $150-200 in 2019. After the Easter day bombing, the arrival of foreigners started declining and now the island is in the grip of an economic crisis and a civil war after the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mr Panikulangara.
According to Kerala tourism officials, the emergence of Colombo as a popular budget destination after the ethnic war was one among the main reasons for the declining growth of Kerala in foreign segment. Once again when the crisis in Colombo deepens, the chances are high for these tourists to look for other options and south India, especially Kerala, the Maldives, Thailand and Malaysia, would be the beneficiaries in such a scenario.
“It is obvious Kerala will get a share of foreigners if the situation worsens in Lanka. But Kerala will have to do some homework to get its due share. Even after the two-day all-India strike was announced, the State government is yet to exempt the tourism sector from the shutdown. This attitude has to change and we have to rise to the occasion to stay afloat,” said E. M. Najeeb, senior vice president, Indian Association of Tour Operators.
