Tourism Industry at risk due to X-PRESS PEARL disaster

COLOMBO (News 1st): The tourism industry will face negative consequences following the fire aboard the MV X-PRESS PEARL off the Western coast of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said. Of the 15 tourist zones, eight are located within the area that is affected due to the MV X-PRESS PEARL disaster, Dhammika Wijesinghe, the Director-General of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) told News 1st on Saturday (Jun. 12). Moreover, the tourism industry is heavily dependent on the country's beaches and the marine eco-system, which entails a rich bio-diversity; therefore, there is a significant impact on the tourism industry, Dhammika Wijesinghe pointed out. "Seafood such as shrimp, lobster, and crab is quite popular among foreign tourists who visit Sri Lanka, and yet to be validated concerns with regard to fish resources could gravely affect the tourism industry and its image," Dhammika Wijesinghe, the Director-General of SLTDA lamented.