AITO companies pledge support for Sri Lanka

Specialist tour operators have pledged support for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry following the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.

Several members of AITO said they are working together to work out how best to offer practical assistance and expect to make an announcement shortly.

AITO members involved in the initiative include Bamboo Travel, Experience Travel Group, Fleewinter and Travel Gallery plus other Sri Lanka travel specialists Holiday Architects and Selective Asia.

The group said it was responding to appeals from the Sri Lankan travel industry as a whole, plus from many individual self-employed guides and driver guides.

Spokesman for the group, Sam Clark of Experience Travel Group, said: "As a collective, we are very fortunate that none of our clients in Sri Lanka were directly affected by last Sunday’s atrocities. Naturally, our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to all those injured and to the families and friends of the victims.

"Our primary aim is, of course, to provide safe and comfortable travel arrangements for all clients currently in Sri Lanka and for those with plans to visit the island in the future. I am glad to say that several groups have travelled to Sri Lanka since the incidents of last Sunday; we are in touch with them – both via our guides and directly – and understand that they feel safe and are happy to be on the island.

"We thank all involved for their sympathy and solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka. In continuing with their holidays, visitors are providing valuable support to the individuals working within the travel industry and their wider families, as well as delivering a strong message to the terrorists."

Clark said the group had been ‘overwhelmed’ by messages of support within the UK, which have been passed on to teams in Sri Lanka.

"We undertake to continue doing everything we can to support our colleagues and friends, as well as the wider travel and tourism sector in Sri Lanka, in the days, weeks and months ahead. The travel industry is a vital part of the economy of Sri Lanka, and delivers employment to a wide range of socio-economic groups and an equally diverse age range of people. Full employment and the opportunity for visitors to meet local people of all backgrounds (and vice versa) are, we believe, key to deeper understanding on both sides and to creating positive and enduring holiday memories and friendships.

"The specialist companies concerned are currently planning how best to assist Sri Lankan tourism to recover from Easter Sunday’s atrocities in practical terms and hope to make an announcement about their ideas in the near future."