The Hindu Business Line : Tsunami-hit beaches beckon tourists

WHILE the overall impact of the recent tsunami on Asia's tourism industry is expected to be minimal, in certain affected regions where tourism is the mainstay of the local economy, the effect is likely to be more severe.

For countries such as Sri Lanka, Maldives and Thailand, where tourism is an important economic activity, the rapid recovery of this sector is critical. Therefore, the need of the hour is to encourage tourists to continue with their travel plans to the region, said Peter de Jong, President and CEO, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). "We need to sustain the livelihoods, protect the employment and self-sufficiency of thousands of survivors who play their part in the travel and tourism industry," he added.

The negative impact of the tsunami will be exacerbated if tourists cancel or postpone visits to the Asian region, he told Business Line. "Not only will tourism maintain jobs and boost local economies, it will also be a sign of support and solidarity, giving new hope and confidence to those who have begun to rebuild their lives and livelihoods," he said.

For tourists, the message is that they are welcome and needed, de Jong said. In fact, people who have not yet planned a visit should look at taking a holiday in the region, he declared. "If you wish to make a difference, visit the many safe and intact parts of the affected destinations," he added.

Agreeing that some places may not yet be ready for tourists, de Jong pointed out that other tourist destinations in the affected regions are safe for travellers.

For example, much of the tourism infrastructure in Phuket in Thailand has been unaffected by the waves, and the beaches there have been cleaned up.

PATA on its part is developing new recommendations on places that are ready to receive tourists, he said. These recommendations are based on the available information from the organisation's members, common sense observations of the clean-up and consultations with the World Health Organisation, he explained.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued last week, the World Tourism Organisation emphasised that the tsunami would have only a limited impact on world tourism.

Even in the worst affected countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the damage is mostly limited to some tourist destinations while other destinations were unaffected, the statement added.

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