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Sri Lanka hopes to soon revive her image as a safe tourist destination despite the recent setbacks after the July 24 attack on its International Airport, top government officials assured a packed press conference yesterday. A few countries did issue travel warnings, to their citizens to avoid travel to Sri Lanka except for essential purposes. The tourist arrival rate via the International Airport is now 400 – 500 a day. Several airlines such as SIA, Thai Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air and Lauda Air are now flying in to Colombo regularly. The security systems at the airport and at the port have been upgraded. A team from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was in Colombo looking into the security arrangements at the BIA and is to submit their final report next week. Airport officials expect this would further clear all doubts on security provided for travelers to and from Colombo. Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, Renton de Alwis is optimistic that tourism in Sri Lanka would recover soon as the security at the airport and the port continues to be upgraded. Surcharges levied by underwriters after the attack on the airport are also coming down. Finance Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara disclosed that Lloyds of London have agreed to bring down surcharges by about 75- 80% and expressed hope that it would be eliminated completely after carrying out an independent security audit. Airfares that have been increased due to surcharges will also come down accordingly. The Sri Lanka Tourist Board meanwhile has worked out attractive packages to would be travelers to the country. The members of the tourist industry have pledged their fullest support and agreed not to engage in price wars; we will operate as 'Sri Lanka Tourism', a single entity, the Tourist Board Chairman said. "We have to start from what we have. We are not expecting new customers at the moment, but look for those who are loyal, who have traveled here earlier" he added. Normal economic activities are continuing without interruption, assured Dr Jayasundera. The IMF, The World Bank, and The Asian Development Bank are going ahead with their proposed projects now. There are around 10 major projects to improve the ports. The Bandaranaike International Airport is also to be modernized with Japanese aid; the consultancy agreement is to be signed in Japan next week. The Galle Harbour will have her new jetty by the end of this year and the dredging of the port basin and main canal are scheduled to be completed by February next year.
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