Multiple blasts likely to have "adverse impact" on Sri Lankan tourism: tour operators

near-simultaneous blasts targeting three churches and as many luxury hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter on Sunday may have an "verse impact" on upcoming summer holiday season in country, a well-kwn tourist destination, tour operators and hoteliers said.

A string of near simultaneous blasts struck three churches and luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, killing more than 160 people and injuring over 450 ors, shattering a dece of peace in country after end of brutal civil war with LTTE.

India is largest source market for Sri Lanka, which received 2.3 million tourists from around world in 2018.

Around 450,000 Indian tourists visited Sri Lanka last year and island nation was expecting total Indian tourist arrivals to cross one million mark in 2019.

explosions at start of travel season is likely to impact annual tourist footfalls. tourism authorities said y were worried that attacks will affect industry in coming months.

Tourism revenues in Sri Lanka increased to USD 362.7 million in vember from USD 284 million in October 2018, according to a media report.

"re will be a downward trend, Tourism will get affected. re may be fund outflows," Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Harith Perera said it was first time that hotels have been directly attacked, asserting that it was unprecedented and h t happened even during 30-year-old brutal conflict.

He said attacks were likely to have an "verse impact" on summer holiday season that is coming up, Sunday Times reported.

three five-star hotels targeted in blasts were Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury.

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Asked wher security has been beefed up at or city hotels, Perera said authorities were "still waking up from what has happened."

"This will create a lot of instability and send wrong mess," he said.

Hoteliers Association President Sanath Ukwatte said attacks seemed to indicate that it was targeted at Easter celebrations and Easter Mass.

"ne of us are sure of what is happening," Ukwatte said. He said all hotels have taken necessary precautions following attacks. group has claimed responsibility for Sunday's attacks.

President Maithripala Sirisena has appealed for calm following attacks.

"I have been shocked by this totally unexpected incidents. security forces haven been asked to take all action necessary," Sirisena said.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe termed blasts as "cowardly attacks" and said his government was working to "contain situation."

Sri Lanka's tourism industry faced a difficult time until a dece back due to civil war with LTTE which claimed at least 100,000 lives. However, in recent years island nation has emerged as a top tourism destination in Asia.

island nation has developed Ramayana circuit to woo Indian tourists by identifying several places connected with ancient Indian epic. 

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