Sam Clark told TTG the FCDO’s decision last week "wasn’t a disaster" for the destination as it comes during low season, and follows a "really positive" start to the year following the lifting of Covid travel curbs. "We’re hoping it will be a temporary setback for Sri Lankan tourism rather than a significant blow," said ETG managing director Clark.

The FCDO’s decision on Friday (13 May) came in response to renewed political unrest in the country, which had been building since the start of the year; citizens have experienced food and fuel shortages, while the country’s economic outlook has worsened as the Sri Lankan rupee has weakened, leading to inflation.

Last week, prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stood down following a mass cabinet resignation. He was quickly replaced by long-time opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe, a move Clark said showed Sri Lanka was already taking tentative steps to break the deadlock relatively quickly.

"Along with the agreed constitutional reforms, there seems to be tentative route of the crisis for the first time since it began back in January," he said. "However, while the political situation is so uncertain, we can understand why the FCDO taking a precautionary stance.

"The timing is not a disaster for Sri Lankan tourism in that it is low season right now. Following a really positive start to the year for Sri Lanka, arrivals will have fallen sharply anyway from mid-April onwards. The inter-monsoon summer season starts in mid-July.

"If the new administration can maintain some stability over the next week or two, then I see no reason why the FCDO won’t remove the advisory quickly. The situation is a largely predictable one, and there is a remarkable degree of unity among the country as a whole, albeit largely in opposition to president [Gotabaya] Rajapaksa and his family.

"The protests have been ongoing since the start of the year, and they have been overwhelmingly peaceful and positive. Tourists have been made very welcome – our guests have all reported they are very happy they travelled and were unaffected by the fuel shortages."

ETG, along with fellow Aito member Travel Gallery, issued a briefing note on the situation on Monday afternoon (16 May), in which they warned international support – including an International Monetary Fund (IMF) rescue package – would be "crucial" to Sri Lanka’s long-term recovery. They said talks with the IMF were under way, pending greater political stability.

The Aito members also stressed the lack of tourism income during the pandemic had exacerbated Sri Lanka’s current problems. "Sri Lanka faces a long road to economic recovery, and tourism will be a crucial driver in that recovery," they said. "It is vital for the people of Sri Lanka we support them in the recovery of their tourism sector, providing the safety of travellers is secure."

Clark said he was hopeful Sri Lanka was on the cusp of a tourism resurgence. "The change in the advisory will no doubt affect demand for forward bookings, which is a shame. At this stage, we see no reason why travel to Sri Lanka won’t be safe, fun and enjoyable by the time the summer season comes around. We hope the FCDO changes the advisory as soon as it is able to do so.

"We’d encourage agents with forward Sri Lanka bookings to talk to their clients, be as honest and as open as they can, but be cautiously optimistic that travel to Sri Lanka will be able to restart in the not too distant future."

Tui on Monday (16 May) confirmed it had placed its Sri Lankan programme on hold until the end of the month, although customers currently in the country have been told they should continue with their trips as planned.